Interactive book, magazine and audio/video compact disk box

ABSTRACT

In accordance with this invention, a remote control for an interactive media can include a printed publication and/or a storage media and/or a data button. One embodiment of a remote control includes a printed publication (such as a book, magazine or a catalog) and one or more buttons physically attached to the printed publication to allow users to remotely control use of associated electronic content by a host device. Another embodiment of a remote control has a housing capable of removably holding a storage media encoded with electronic content associated with a button of the remote control. Yet another embodiment of a remote control has at least one data button which permits the user to select the data to be displayed by the host device. An autostart driver in the host device detects insertion of a storage media into a peripheral and automatically starts an application. The application interprets button codes transmitted by the remote control and displays the results or initiates other events. An application development system allows an author to quickly create interactive media applications.

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 08/269,492, filedJul. 1, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,265.

CROSS REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Appendix A, which is a part of the present disclosure, is a microficheappendix consisting of one sheet of microfiche having a total of 29frames. Microfiche Appendix A is a listing of computer programs andrelated data for a remote control based on the 6805K1 microprocessor,which is described more completely below.

Appendix B, which is a part of the present disclosure, is a microficheappendix consisting of one sheet of microfiche having a total of 21frames. Microfiche Appendix B is a listing of computer programs andrelated data for a touch panel remote control, which is described morecompletely below.

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and TrademarkOffice patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an apparatus and method for wireless remotecontrol and use of interactive media and in particular to a remotecontrol including a printed publication and/or a storage media and/or adata button.

BACKGROUND

Today's multimedia devices have sophisticated digital sound and fullmotion video capabilities which make such devices very suitable forentertainment and educational applications in users, homes. The contentsof many printed books are now commercially available as multimedia booksand applications encoded in CD-ROMs. Unfortunately, using a multimediabook or application on a host device is not simple at all.

Most of today's multimedia books lack the feel of printed books andcannot easily be categorized as books on a bookstore shelf. Children,the main targets of multimedia books, usually cannot use such bookswithout adult help. Today's multimedia books have the feel and ease ofuse of ordinary computer programs. A significant level of computerknowledge is required to "read" a multimedia book, typically by usinginput devices such as a mouse, computer keyboard or game controller.

For example, to use a CD-ROM based multimedia book, the user must do thefollowing on an IBM PC host device:

1. Start the Windows operating environment;

2. Insert the CD-ROM into the drive;

3. Find the appropriate icon and double click on the icon, or,

If the icon is not available, use the File Manager's menu to select"File" and "Run" and then type the name of the executable file such as"WP", followed by the Enter key.

The above procedure is not simple for anyone other than experiencedWindows users. A similar procedure must be followed for a Macintosh hostdevice.

Although in using a game platform such as 3DO platform or a Segaplatform it is considerably simpler to start an application, the user isrequired to toggle the power switch after insertion of a game cartridge,which can be a significant task for a two year old child. A similartoggling of power switch is required for boot-up diskettes for personalcomputers. Toggling of the power switch forces a user to wait for thepersonal computer or game platform to go through the boot-up sequencewhich can last for typically 20 to 30 seconds. Moreover, the user mustknow that merely inserting a CD-ROM into a peripheral is not enough andthat some button must be toggled or pressed. Also, the user must knowthe specific button on the host device such as a power switch orCTL-ALT-DEL for an IBM PC.

Although some host devices automatically check a disk drive for a fileof commands to be run, such checking is done only during power up forbooting the operating system. Once a host device has been powered up andis running the operating system, the user must manually start anapplication (for example by clicking the mouse on an icon or by typingcommands such as "MSINSTR"). After the application has started, the usermust know and remember the commands necessary to perform variousfunctions of retrieval and display, the names of data accessible by thehost device and must make the associations between the commands,functions and data. Another problem with today's multimedia books isthat book authors find it difficult to turn ideas for children's booksinto products because of the inherent complexity of a multimedia bookdevelopment process.

Remote controls for television (TV) are well known in the art.Conventional TV remote controls have a rectangular box shape and havefunction buttons which can cause the TV to switch to a desired channel.However, a user must find out the programs available for viewing (forexample by consulting a TV guide to find a desired program), rememberthe associated channel number and then switch to the desired channel bypressing the appropriate function button on the remote control.

Children's sound books are well known in the art. Such children's soundbooks have a button which when pressed plays a sound locally from aspeaker embedded in the sound book and electrically connected to thebutton.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention, a remote control for interactivemedia (henceforth "remote control"), includes remote control circuitryand one or more feature(s) from: a printed publication (such as a book,magazine or a catalog), a storage media holder and a data button. Aprinted publication remote control in accordance with this inventionincludes a printed publication having printed content and one or morebutton(s) connected to a remote control circuitry which allows users toremotely control use of associated electronic content by a host device.

In accordance with this invention, the remote control circuitry iscapable of transmitting a wireless signal to a host device wherein anapplication running on the host device displays the desired results. Thebutton(s) of the remote control have a visual association with textand/or graphic content on the remote control. The text and/or graphiccontent and the associated electronic content have a representative(descriptive and/or derivative) association (such as the associationbetween a title or abstract and the electronic content associated withthe title or abstract). The associated electronic content and thebutton(s) have a remote electronic association implemented through awireless signal encoded with a button code. There is a correspondencebetween the representative association and the remote electronicassociation such that the function and/or data indicated by the textand/or graphic content visually associated with the pressed button isused by a host device in displaying associated electronic content. Sucha unique combination of printed publication, associated electroniccontent and one or more button(s) into a single remote control allowsthe button(s) to be customized depending on the content of theassociated electronic content.

In one embodiment of this invention, the associated electronic contentis encoded in one or more remote storage media and accessed through aremote server although the associated electronic content is an integralpart of the remote control. Such a remote control allows a user tosimply push a button on the remote control to cause the host device toaccess electronic content from a remote server.

In an alternative embodiment, the associated electronic content isencoded in and accessed from a local storage media (such as, forexample, a compact disk (CD), a game cartridge, a floppy disk and amemory card). Such a local storage media can be removably mounted in aholder physically attached to the printed publication in accordance withthis invention. The storage media can be inserted into a suitableperipheral of a host device (such as a personal computer, a game machineor interactive television). The additional cost of a storage media iscomparable to the costs associated with connect charges and thecommunication hardware and software necessary for communications betweenthe host device and a remote server.

In one embodiment of this invention, one and only one button is providedin the remote control. The remote control includes a normal book's frontcover, a normal book's back cover, both made of cardboard and a singlebutton bound into the back cover. In one specific embodiment, a CD-ROMholder (with a CD-ROM) is physically attached to or integrated into andforms the back cover of the remote control.

In accordance with this invention, an application's use of associatedelectronic content (of local or remote storage media) is controlled bypressing a button on the remote control. In one embodiment, pressing abutton causes the host device to retrieve the associated electroniccontent for the next page and display the results of retrieval or appearto the user to "turn" the page (or initiate other actions). A remotecontrol having a single button allows pre-school children to enjoy usingassociated electronic content or a host device remotely from a distancewithout need for parental assistance because of simplicity of use.

In one embodiment of this invention the button on the remote control isa large button which encloses all the necessary remote control circuitryin a self-contained unit. In another embodiment of this invention,several buttons are mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) integratedinto the housing.

Multiple button remote controls permit a wide variety and range ofinteractivity with a host device. In one embodiment, a remote controlhas four buttons each button being visually associated with text and/orgraphics which have a representative descriptive and/or derivativeassociation with the associated electronic content of a next page, aprevious page, beginning (for example a front cover) and end (forexample, a back cover). Such a remote control is idiot proof and can beeasily used by pre-school children.

When a user pushes on the surface of a button on a remote control inaccordance with this invention, a microcontroller in the remote controlwakes up and sends a button code by pulsing an infrared LED. Theinfrared pulse is received by an infrared receiver connected to a hostdevice microcomputer which interprets the button code to perform theindicated function and/or retrieve the indicated data and display thedesired results. Single button control of an application allows evenpre-school children to use selections of interactive media accessed viaa remote server or from local storage media (such as CD's included insome remote control embodiments).

In one embodiment, the host device is configured with an autostartdriver which starts an application for interpreting button codes fromthe remote control. The application can access associated electroniccontent from a remote server or from a local storage media on receipt ofa button code from the remote control. Hence, soon after a button on theremote control is pressed, the title screen of the interactive media isdisplayed by the host device.

An autostart driver in a host device equipped with appropriatecommunications hardware and software can be triggered on receipt of abutton code to start communicating with a remote server. In theembodiment of the remote control including a removable storage media,the host device autostart driver, on finding a storage media of a remotecontrol in a local peripheral, checks the inserted storage media for afile of a first predetermined name. If the file of the firstpredetermined name exists, the autostart driver automatically executesthe file which in turn starts the appropriate application. Theapplication automatically displays the title screen on the monitor ofthe host device.

Therefore when the autostart driver is installed in a host device,compatible applications start up automatically, as soon as a storagemedia is inserted into the drive. Automatic start-up of an applicationon insertion of a storage media allows even pre-school children to useapplications encoded on a storage media without adult supervision.Therefore using an interactive media in accordance with this inventionis made as simple as playing a video cassette recorder (VCR) tape, andeven pre-school children can "read" interactive media without adultsupervision.

In one embodiment, the same button can indicate a first function/dataand alternatively indicate a second function/data at different pointsduring display of electronic contents of an interactive media dependingon the specific programming of the application. In such an embodiment,each of such buttons is visually associated with alternativetext/graphic content having a representative association with functionsand/or data code selections of the associated electronic content.

A storage media remote control in accordance with this inventionincludes a housing having human understandable content and a shape andsize capable of removably holding a storage media. A storage media isremovably but securely held in the housing. Encoded in the storage mediais associated electronic content which has a representative (descriptiveand/or derivative) association with the human understandable content ofthe housing.

One embodiment of a storage media remote control has the form of a CDbox with a number of buttons having a remote electronic association withmusic video selections encoded in a CD removably mounted in the CD box.Buttons on the housing have a visual association with names of musicvideo selections encoded in the CD. Touching a button causes anapplication running in a host device to retrieve the desired music videoselection from the CD and display the retrieved results. In analternative embodiment, instead of music video selections, music audioselections are encoded in the CD.

Another embodiment of a storage media remote control has the form of aconventional magazine (henceforth "periodical" remote control). Theperiodical remote control has a normal magazine front cover and a normalmagazine back cover and embedded in the front cover and back cover areseveral buttons which have a visual association with the printed contentof the front cover and back cover. Furthermore, there is a remoteelectronic association between the buttons in the housing and theassociated electronic content encoded in the CD-ROM. Touching a buttoncauses a video recording identified by the text and graphic content tobe displayed on a monitor of a host device. In one embodiment of aperiodical remote control, membrane buttons are used to identify thedesired associated electronic content. In another embodiment, the frontand back covers each form flexible touch panel surfaces which permit theX and Y coordinates of the touched location to be determined and therebyidentify the desired associated electronic content.

A data button remote control in accordance with this invention includesa housing having data selecting text and/or graphic content visuallyassociated with a data button, wherein the data button has a remoteelectronic association with data specific associated electronic contentaccessible by a host device. The data specific associated electroniccontent is electronic content which includes data which has a dataselecting descriptive and/or derivative association with the dataselecting text and/or graphic content of the housing. Therefore a databutton in accordance with this invention allows a user to remotelyselect a desired selection from one or more selections accessible by ahost device.

One embodiment of a data selecting remote control is a picture bookremote control for children which has four buttons, each button beingassociated with printed text/graphic content of an object (such as, forexample, a train) which has a video recording selection accessible bythe host device. Pressing a button causes the application to display avideo recording selection of the desired object (such as a train buttonfor a train video).

The periodical remote control described above is another embodiment of adata selecting remote control.

Yet another embodiment of a data selecting remote control has a housingin the shape and size of a globe with membrane buttons attached to thehousing, one button on each continent and a video recording selectionaccessible by the host device. Touching any of the buttons causes avideo recording selection on the visually associated continent to bedisplayed on the host device.

Yet another embodiment of a data selecting remote control has arectangular box housing with content representative of a component ofthe solar system such as "Mars" and "Jupiter" visually associated withcorresponding buttons and solar system component selections accessibleby a host device. Pressing one of these buttons causes the selectedsolar system component selection to be used in a video game software.

An application development system in accordance with this inventionallows an author (such as a book writer or an artist) to quickly createinteractive applications for children. For example, to create a picturebook remote control, the author needs to (1) draw pictures, scan themand store them (2) write captions and store them (3) record sounds andstore them and (4) run a compiler engine to generate a run file. Such asimple application development system allows even a person withrudimentary computer knowledge to author applications for remotecontrols for multimedia books, magazines or audio/video compact disks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates a printed publication remote control in accordancewith this invention.

FIGS. 1B and 1C are illustrations of one embodiment of a printedpublication remote control in shut and open positions respectively.

FIG. 1D illustrates another embodiment of a printed publication remotecontrol including a removable storage media containing associatedelectronic content in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 1E illustrates the remote control of FIGS. 1B and 1C being usedwith a host device in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 1F illustrates another embodiment of a printed publication remotecontrol being used with a host device in the form of a game machine.

FIG. 1G illustrates the display of electronic content on the monitor ofa host device controlled by the remote control illustrated in FIGS. 1Band 1C.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are illustrations of one embodiment of a multiple buttonprinted publication remote control in the shut and open positionsrespectively in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a button for a remote control such asthe remote control of FIG. 1B.

FIGS. 3B and 3C are the elevation and plan views of the button shown inFIG. 3A.

FIG. 4A is an illustrative block diagram of a remote control and a hostdevice in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 4B is an illustrative diagram of the remote control circuitry forconnecting the switch, the microcontroller and the signal transmitter ofthe remote control of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4C is an illustrative flow chart for the software running in themicrocontroller of the remote control of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4D is an illustrative diagram of the circuitry for connecting thesignal receiver, microcontroller and microcomputer of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4E is an illustrative flow chart for the software running in themicrocontroller of the host device of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5A is a flow chart illustrating the installation of a softwaredriver in a host device.

FIGS. 5B and 5C are flow charts of alternative embodiments of a softwaredriver running in the microcomputer of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5D illustrates the commands for starting an application in theDISGO.BAT file executed by the software driver of FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C.

FIGS. 5E is an illustrative flow chart of an application running in themicrocomputer of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5F, 5G and 5H illustrate electronic content for use with theapplication of FIG. SE.

FIG. 6A illustrates a storage media remote control in accordance withthis invention.

FIGS. 6B and 6C are illustrations of one embodiment of a storage mediaremote control in the closed and open position respectively.

FIGS. 6D and 6E are illustrations of alterative embodiments of a storagemedia remote control.

FIGS. 6F, 6G and 6H illustrate an embodiment of a storage media remotecontrol in the form of a magazine.

FIG. 6I illustrates an embodiment of a storage media remote controlhaving multiple pages.

FIG. 6J illustrates an embodiment of a storage media remote control inthe form of a CD box.

FIG. 6K illustrates a data button remote control in accordance with thisinvention.

FIG. 6L illustrates one embodiment of a data button remote control inthe form of a globe of planet earth.

FIG. 6M illustrates the associated electronic content for the globeremote control of FIG. 6L.

FIGS. 6N and 6O illustrate two embodiments of a data button remotecontrol for an orbiter simulator with text content for variousenvironments such as Mars, Jupiter, Moon, Earth, Saturn and Pluto.

FIG. 6P illustrates the associated electronic content for the orbiterremote controls of FIGS. 6N and 6O.

FIG. 7A is a plan view of a printed circuit board for use with amultiple button remote control, such as the remote control of FIGS. 6B,6D, 6E, 6J and 2A.

FIG. 7B is an illustrative circuit diagram of the remote controlcircuitry connected to the switches of the buttons of a multiple buttonremote control in one embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 7C is an illustrative flow chart of software running in themicrocontroller of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 7D is a perspective view of a touch panel for a remote control inaccordance with this invention.

FIGS. 7E and 7F are plan views of the top and bottom sheets respectivelyof the touch panel of FIG. 7D.

FIG. 7G is a composite plan view of the touch panel of FIG. 7D formed byoverlaying the top sheet of FIG. 7E on the bottom sheet of FIG. 7F.

FIG. 7H is an illustrative circuit diagram of the remote controlcircuitry connected to a touch panel of a remote control in accordancewith this invention.

FIG. 8A is an illustrative flow chart of an application running in ahost device which is responsive to button codes received from a remotecontrol in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 8B illustrates the electronic content of a storage media for aperiodical remote control in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 8C illustrates a flow chart for an application for a periodicalremote control in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 9A is an illustrative data flow diagram for an applicationdevelopment system.

FIG. 9B illustrates a method used to develop an application for aninteractive media using the development system of FIG. 9A.

FIGS. 9C, 9D and 9E illustrate screens of an author interface used todevelop an application for an interactive media in accordance with thisinvention.

FIG. 9F is an illustrative flow chart for the application creationengine shown in FIG. 9A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with this invention, a remote control for interactivemedia includes one or more of the following feature(s): a printedpublication, a storage media holder and a data button.

A printed publication remote control includes a printed publication(such as a book, a periodical, a catalog, a brochure, a postcard, aflyer, a calendar and a document) having human understandable printedtext and/or graphic content which is visually associated with one ormore buttons attached to the printed publication such that the button(s)allow users to automatically start-up and remotely control use ofassociated electronic content by a host device.

A storage media remote control includes buttons physically attached to ahousing having a shape and size capable of removably holding a storagemedia. A storage media removably but securely held in the housing isencoded with associated electronic content which have a descriptiveand/or derivative association with the text and/or graphic content ofthe housing and remote electronic associations with the buttons of thestorage media remote control.

A data button remote control has a data button physically attached to ahousing having data selecting text and/or graphic content visuallyassociated with the data button. The data button has a remote electronicassociation with data specific associated electronic content.

As used herein, the term "host device" is intended to mean any devicewhich can display to the user associated electronic content encoded inremote and/or local storage media. The host device can be equipped witha peripheral suitable for retrieving associated electronic contentencoded in a local storage media. Also, the host device can be equippedwith communications hardware and software suitable for retrievingassociated electronic content encoded in a remote storage media througha remote server. In accordance with this invention, a host device can beany IBM personal computer (or clone), Macintosh computer, 3DO platform,Sega platform, and an interactive television set top.

As used herein, the term "storage media" is intended to mean media forstoring digital data and/or code such as optical disks (for examplecompact disks (CDs)), flexible disks (for example 51/4 floppy disks),rigid disks (for example hard disks), tapes, game cartridges, memorycards (for example PCMCIA card) or any other media suitable for use in ahost device. The term storage media includes such structures and anyother structure which performs the function of information storage. Inone embodiment the storage media is removable from a host devicealthough other storage media (for example on a remote server) can alsobe used in accordance with this invention.

Rather than buttons, alternatively any one of a number of identifyingmechanisms can be used (such as the well-known "koala pad" structure ora touch panel) which allows the user to transmit a signal to pull upassociated electronic content. The enclosed description is not intendedto limit the types of identifying mechanisms which can be used to pullup the desired contents on the storage media but rather it could beillustrative of such mechanisms. Rather than a touch sensitive deviceeven a wand or a pointer can be used in a remote control to identify thedesired electronic content to be displayed by a host device.

In accordance with this invention, associated electronic content includeselections which can contain information found in a conventional printedpublication such as book, magazine, catalog or other printed document.As used herein, the term "selection" is intended to mean data and/orcode and includes a grouping or combination of one or more files such assoftware, still graphics, picture, text, audio recording, videorecording or other data related to one another, suitable for display bya host device. For example, a selection can include the multimediaequivalent of a magazine article or a television program or a digitizedsong or a video game software program or a spread sheet for financialinformation. While in one embodiment, data and/or code selections are inmultimedia form suitable for use in a multimedia host device, a singlemedia host device can also be used with suitable selections inaccordance with this invention.

As used herein, the term "interactive media" is intended to mean anycommunication media with which a user can interact such as a computer,an interactive television and a video game machine.

As used herein, the term "category" is intended to mean one or moreselections which have some common characteristic. Examples of categoriesare "fish" and "birds". A fish category can contain selections of audioand/or video recordings and text captions relating to, for example, 200different fish. Another example of a category is a "rock and roll music"category encoded on audio CD, the audio CD containing 20 selections ofmusic, each music selection being representative of rock and roll music.

As used herein, the term "application" is intended to mean code and/ordata which interprets button codes from a remote control. Applicationsrun on host devices. Applications can include selections oralternatively selections and applications can be distinct entities. Inone embodiment of this invention applications are distributed to userson storage media housed in a remote control. In one specific embodimentof this invention, an application and associated selections are allintegrated into a single executable (such as BUSWEEK.EXE describedbelow). In an alternative embodiment of this invention, applications forretrieving and displaying selections are distributed to usersindependent of the storage media containing the selections. Applicationsand/or selections can be distributed to users and accessed by a hostdevice through various communication channels such as phone lines, TVcable and/or satellite link.

An application in accordance with this invention, includes code whichinteracts with the user regardless of whether the code is created usinga high level presentation development system or is hard coded using aprogramming language such as C. Furthermore, an application can includeeither a small run time engine or a larger presentation developmentsoftware for displaying multimedia selections. In accordance with thisinvention, an application and/or selection can reside on removable localstorage media and/or the host device's storage media and/or a remoteserver. In other alternative embodiments, a part of the application isresident in the host device, and another part is resident on a remoteserver's storage media and/or a local storage media.

As used herein, the term "display" is intended to mean presenting one ormore selections by the host device in a form suitable for use by a humanon a display device such as a monitor/screen, a speaker/headset or aprinter. Display includes running a software program, playing a soundrecording (through a speaker/headset), showing a video recording (on amonitor/screen) and printing a graphics image (on a printer). As usedherein, the term "use" is intended to be more than mere display andincludes any use whatsoever in a host device.

As used herein, the term "function/data button" is intended to mean abutton having a remote electronic association which causes a host deviceto perform a desired function and/or to retrieve desired data and/orcode and to display the results of retrieval on the host device.Function/data button can refer to a function button, a data button or abutton having mixed function and data attributes. A function buttoncauses a host device to perform a function. Some examples of a functionbutton are a STOP button, a PRINT button, a left arrow button, a BEGINbutton and a SELECT button. A data button in accordance with thisinvention is visually associated with content on the remote controlhousing wherein the content indicates to a user one or more categoriesand/or selections containing specific data on a storage media (local orremote). A data button indicates to a host device, selections containingspecific data to be retrieved from a local or remote storage media andto be displayed to the user. Some examples of a data button are a TRAINbutton, a JUPITER button, an AFRICA button, a BIRDS button, a I WANT TOHOLD YOUR HAND button and a 100 TOP US COMPANIES IN 1993 button. A mixedfunction and data button can indicate retrieval of data with one or morefunctions to be performed before and/or after retrieval. Some examplesof mixed function and data button are a NEXT PAGE button, an ORBITbutton, a LAND button, a SKIP button, a REPEAT button, and an INFObutton. A mixed function and data button can also indicate retrieval ofcode and execution of retrieved code.

FIG. 1A illustrates a printed publication remote control 10 for aninteractive media in accordance with this invention. Such a printedpublication remote control 10 includes a printed publication 11 whichhas printed content. Printed publication 11 is shown highlighted (doublecircle) to indicate that the printed publication is an essential featureincluded in remote control 10. Printed content can be any content suchas text and/or graphics which is printed on a housing of printedpublication 11.

Printed publication remote control 10 includes one or more function/databutton(s) 12, remote control circuitry (not shown in FIG. 1A) andassociated electronic content 13. Function/data button(s) 12 have aphysical attachment 14A to printed publication 11. Function/databutton(s) 12 have a visual association with the printed content ofprinted publication 11.

Physical attachment 14A and visual association 14B can be implemented bygluing a button to a page adjacent to associated printed text and/orgraphic content. Printed text and/or graphic content can also be placeddirectly on an associated button 12. In another embodiment, text and/orgraphic content are placed far off from an associated button 12 andvisual association 14B is formed by one or more printed lines on theprinted publication which connect button 12 and the text and/or graphiccontent to be associated with button 12. The printed text and/or graphiccontent can indicate user directions (such as "Press the button"),functions and selections (data/code) accessible by a button 12. A usercan review a printed publication by looking at the graphics and/orreading the text (including reading braille by touching).

Function/data button(s) 12 are connected to remote control circuitrycapable of causing a function/data button code to be transmitted as awireless signal from remote control 10 to a host device (not shown inFIG. 1A). On receipt of the wireless signal, the host device can accessassociated electronic content 13 to display the desired resultsindicated by the text and/or graphic content of printed publication 11.Therefore, there is a remote electronic association 15 betweenfunction/data button(s) 12 and associated electronic content 13. Thereis a representative (descriptive and/or derivative) association 16between the text and/or graphic content of printed publication 11 andassociated electronic content 13.

Representative association 16 is implemented when a publisher of aprinted publication remote control 10 makes some indication ofassociated electronic content 13 in the printed publication 11, whichallows a user to use a button 12 to enjoy associated electronic content13 accessible by a user's host device. Representative association 16 canbe descriptive and/or derivative such as the association between atitle, an abstract or a graphic and the associated electronic content(for example an icon of a paint brush associated with the software forpainting or an icon of a fire truck associated with a video recording ofa fire truck).

In one embodiment of this invention, a publisher publishes the printedcontent of the printed publication as well as the associated electroniccontent (remote or local) simultaneously as a single interactive mediapublication. A printed publication remote control sold to a userincludes at least printed publication 11 with physically attachedfunction/data button(s) 12 which have a visual association 14B with theprinted content of printed publication 11.

An associated electronic content 13 which forms a part of remote control10 and which is accessible by a user's host device and is encoded eitherin a removable storage media local to the host device or in a remotestorage media accessible through a remote server. The removable storagemedia is physically included and removably mounted inside a remotecontrol in accordance with this invention. The remote storage media isnot physically included in remote control 10.

One embodiment of a remote control for pre-school children is a picturebook remote control in which the associated electronic content containscontent similar or identical to that of standard children's books suchas "Cinderella" and "Pete the Police Car." Such associated electroniccontent can include selections containing drawings and/or photographswith text captions as in the print version, and/or audio recordings,and/or video recordings for multimedia host devices.

FIG. 1B illustrates one embodiment of a picture book remote control 100in accordance with this invention. Externally, picture book remotecontrol 100 looks and feels much like a printed publication, such as aregular children's book. Picture book remote control 100 includes aprinted publication 101 which has a colorful front cover 102. Frontcover 102, a thick cardboard piece, is a children's book front cover.Front cover 102 has an outer side 102A which includes text printedcontent 103A, "FRED THE FIRE ENGINE An Interactive Book." Printedcontent 103A is a descriptive title for remote control 100.

Remote control 100 includes a button 104 accessible through a hole 104Hin front cover 102. Printed publication 101 includes, in addition tofront cover 102, a back cover 105 having an inner side 105A. Inner side105A has graphic printed content 103B, an illustration of a fire truck,the fire truck being associated with electronic content (not shown inFIG. 1C) in the form of a picture, text, video recording and audiorecording of a fire truck which is displayed to a user by a host devicewhen button 104 is pressed.

Button 104 is physically attached by glue to the inner side 105A of backcover 105 (FIG. 1C). Hole 104H has a diameter d_(H) =1.5 inch to allow abutton 104 of diameter d_(B) =1.25 inch to be accessible when picturebook remote control 100 is shut by bringing together front cover 102 andback cover 105 (FIG. 1B). Visual associations between button 104 andtext content 103A and also between button 104 and graphic content 103Band text content 102C are formed because of physically adjacent presenceto each other (without any other intervening button(s) and/ortext/graphic content).

Picture book remote control 100 includes remote control circuitry (notshown in FIG. 1B) supported by printed publication 101 and connected tobutton 104. In one embodiment the remote control circuitry is embeddedin the spine of picture book remote control 100. In another embodiment,the remote control circuitry is encased inside button 104. The remotecontrol circuitry is capable of causing a function identifying buttoncode to be transmitted by remote control 100 and thus provides a remoteelectronic association with electronic content 133A of FIG. 1E which isaccessible to a host device. Picture book remote control 100 has alength L_(B) =9.25 inches a height H_(P) =6.2 inches and a thicknessT_(P) =0.35 inches (FIG. 1B).

Although in one embodiment there are no pages between front cover 102and back cover 105, in alternative embodiments there are pages, such as,for example, thick cardboard pages similar or identical to the pages inconventional children's books, with or without additional buttons.

In some embodiments, a printed publication remote control includes aholder for removably holding storage media such as CD-ROMs. FIG. 1Dillustrates a picture book remote control 110 which includes a removableCD ROM storage media 119. Picture book remote control 110 is similar topicture book remote control 100 in most respects described above.Picture book remote control 110 includes a printed publication 112, witha front cover 111, and a button 114 accessible though a hole 114H offront cover 111.

A storage media holder 118 is physically attached to inner side 111B offront cover 111. Storage media holder 118 has a circular inner periphery118I with diameter d_(I) =4.75 inch and thickness t_(I) =0.10 inch (notshown in FIG. 1D). Storage media holder 118 is a square holder with aside having width W_(O) =5.4 inch and a thickness t_(O) =0.15 inch.Inner periphery 118I is provided with several notches 118E, 118F, 118Gand 118H to facilitate easy removal of CD ROM 119 from storage mediaholder 118. Furthermore, storage media holder 118 has several ears 118A,118B, 118C and 118D which hold CD-ROM 119 securely in place when CD ROM119 is removably mounted in storage media holder 118. CD ROM 119includes the associated electronic content for picture book remotecontrol 110 (similar or identical to electronic content 133A of FIG.1E).

Printed publication 112 has a spine 114S of thickness T_(S) =0.35 inchwhich connects front cover 111 and back cover 113. When picture bookremote control 110 is shut, compact disk 119 is held securely in theresulting enclosure between holder 118, and back cover 113. Back cover113 has, on its inner side 113A, text printed content 113B₋₋ 1, 113B₋₋2, 113B₋₋ 3, 113B₋₋ 4, 113B₋₋ 5 and 113B₋₋ 6 which includes a summarydescription and copyright notice of associated electronic content 133Aencoded in CD ROM 119.

In an alternative embodiment of this invention, a CD ROM holder in theform of a pouch having length l_(O) =5.5 inch and height a_(O) =4.75inch is mounted on back cover 113A. In other alternative embodiments,the remote control has a storage media holder of dimensions andstructure suitable for removably holding other types of storage mediasuch as floppy disk (FIG. 6C) and game cartridge (FIG. 6D).

Although in one embodiment, a button is physically attached to the innerside of a back cover of a printed publication, a button in accordancewith this invention can be physically attached anywhere on a printedpublication including the outer side and inner side of a front cover, aback cover and/or the spine.

Electronic content 133A encoded in CD-ROM 119 includes selections havinga representative (descriptive/derivative) association with the textand/or graphic printed content of printed publication 112. In oneembodiment, compact disk 119 is a CD-ROM manufactured by Sony Corp.

FIG. 1E illustrates use of picture book remote control 100 with a hostdevice 120 in accordance with this invention. Host device 120 is an IBMcompatible personal computer (PC) equipped with a monitor 122, a speaker124A, a CD drive 124B, a keyboard 124C, a mouse 124D, a printer 124Eand, a cable/wire 124F connected to a jack 124G. Host device 120includes a signal receiver 125 connected via a cable 126 to themicroprocessor in host device 120. In one specific embodiment of thisinvention, jack 124G is connected to the Internet computer communicationnetwork. In other embodiments jack 124G is connected to other computercommunication networks (such as Information Super Highway, Prodigy andCompuServe). In alternative embodiments, jack 124G is connected to atelephone network, a cable TV network or a satellite network.

A user such as a child can "read" an interactive media on a host device120 by pressing button 104 in remote control 100. Pressing remotecontrol button 104 causes a "turn to next page" function identifyingbutton code to be encoded in a wireless signal and transmitted via awireless signal link 104S to signal receiver 125. Signal receiver 125transmits the received button code to a microprocessor in host device120 via cable 126. Host device 120 interprets the received button codeas command to an application running in its microprocessor.

In one embodiment, on receipt of the button code, the applicationcomputes the next page address from the current page address, retrievesfrom associated electronic content 133C, the electronic content for thenext page and displays the retrieved electronic content on host device120. Such a display causes the image of a title screen on monitor 122 tobe replaced by the image of the first page of the interactive media, orcauses a first page image to be replaced by a second page image and soon, depending on the image being displayed when the button code wasreceived.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1E the associated electronic content133C for picture book remote control 100 is encoded in remote storagemedia 132C connected to a remote server 131. Associated electroniccontent 133C includes a category of selections for "FRED THE FIREENGINE" which is used with remote control 100 having the text printedcontent 103A "FRED THE FIRE ENGINE."

In one embodiment of this invention, a portion of the remote controlbutton code determines the associated electronic content referenced bythe button of a remote control. For example, in one embodiment, in aremote control button code 0027, the number 27 uniquely identifies theassociated electronic content 133C containing the story of "FRED THEFIRE ENGINE" while the number 00 indicates the title screen.

A host device 120 can log into remote server 131 and use remote controlbutton code 0027 to retrieve associated electronic content 133C, (whichhas a representative association with text printed content 103A) anddisplay the title screen. In one embodiment of this invention eachsuccessful retrieval of associated electronic content by a user's hostdevice causes the remote server to bill the user for the costsassociated with use of the associated electronic content.

Also shown in FIG. 1E are electronic contents 133A, 133B and 133Dencoded on storage media 132A, 132B and 132D which are associated withother picture book remote controls. Each such picture book remotecontrol can have a button capable of transmitting a button code whichdistinctly identifies one of the electronic contents 133A, 133B and 133Dand the function/data being referenced. In an alternative embodiment, asingle remote control includes multiple buttons, with each buttondistinctly identifying a different one of electronic contents 133A,133B, 133C and 133D (as in FIG. 6B).

In the embodiment of FIG. 1E, remote server 131 is accessible to hostdevice 120 via the TV cable system 130 connected to cable jack 124G.Although in the embodiment of FIG. 1E, electronic contents 133A, 133B,133C and 133D are resident on distinctly separate storage media andaccessed through a single server, such electronic contents can all beresident on a single storage media or each can be accessible throughdifferent servers in accordance with this invention.

In one specific embodiment of this invention, host device 120 is an IBMcompatible personal computer from Astrix Computer Corporation, 1546Centre Pointe Drive, Milpitas, Calif. 95035. Host device 120 includesmultimedia hardware such as a full motion video card, "Real Magic"available from Sigma Designs, Inc., 47900 Bayside Parkway, Fremont,Calif. 94538. The Real Magic card implements an audio/video compressionalgorithm compatible with MPEG/1 specification available from the MotionPictures Expert Group. Host device 120 also includes a commerciallyavailable CD drive, NEC CDR/84 available from NEC Corporation. In analternative embodiment of this invention, host device 120 includes thefull motion video card "ProAudio Spectrum 16" available from MediaVision Inc., 47300 Bayside Parkway, Fremont, Calif. 94538.

In one embodiment of this invention host device 120 is a Macintoshpersonal computer (PC) equipped with a monitor, a floppy drive, aspeaker, a headset, a signal receiver, a CD drive and a keyboard.

In one embodiment of this invention, remote control 100 includes asignal transmitter (as described below) for transmission of a buttoncode from button 104 as a wireless signal, which can be received bysignal receiver 125. In one embodiment, cable 126 is an RS 232 serialcable. In the embodiment described above, each time button 104 ispressed, a function identifying button code is transmitted by remotecontrol 100 and an application running in host device 120 retrieves theelectronic content for the next page until reaching the back cover afterwhich, on the next retrieval and display the host device goes back tothe beginning and displays the title screen.

FIG. 1F shows a picture book remote control 115 being used with a hostdevice in the form of a game machine platform 150. Text content 116F andgraphic content 116G are visually associated with button 116C on frontcover 116. A game cartridge is removably mounted inside a holder ininteractive book remote control 115 (as shown in FIG. 6D).

Game machine platform 150 includes a television 141, which has a screen(also called a "monitor"). Game machine platform 150 also includes agame machine 142 connected to television 141 by a cable 145C. Gamemachine 142 includes a built-in receiver 143, a modem 144A, a fax card144B, a battery protected memory card 144C and game cartridge receiver149. Game cartridge receiver 149 is suitable for retrieving theelectronic contents encoded in a game cartridge. Game machine 142 isconnected via a cable 145A to a telephone jack 146. Game machine 142 isalso connected to a satellite antennae 148 by a cable wire 145D.

Although a game machine 142 is being described and shown in FIG. 1F,other host devices such as an interactive television set top can be usedinstead of game machine 142 in accordance with this invention.

Modem 144A of game machine 142 permits a game machine platform 150 tocommunicate with devices connected via a modem to the telephone network(not shown). Game machine platform 150 supports applications involvingmultiple users participating in a single video game application.Alternatively applications which permit a user to purchase variousproducts by merely pressing a button in a remote control (as describedbelow) can be used in game machine platform 150.

A telephone 147 is connected by phone cable 145B to phone jack 146 andpermits a user to have a voice link with another user. Alternativelytelephone 147 can be used by a user to communicate with a publisher ofinteractive media or an advertiser of products in a periodical remotecontrol (as described below). In one embodiment of this invention, auser's credit card number and password are saved in battery protectedmemory card 144C for use by an application to order an advertisedproduct when a user issues a buy command using a remote control (asdescribed below in reference to application 860).

One advantage of combining a button and a printed publication into asingle remote control as described above is that a button of the remotecontrol can be uniquely customized depending on the specific text and/orgraphic content of the printed publication and depending on theassociated electronic content.

Another advantage of a printed publication remote control is that such aremote control can be sold through the existing normal printedpublication channels such as a book store, a magazine stand and directmail order.

A picture book remote control with one and only one button which causespage turning and caption reading on a host device allows even preschoolchildren to enjoy interactive multimedia CD-ROM books on a host devicewithout need for parental assistance.

In accordance with this invention, a user, such as a two year old child,can remove storage media 119 (FIG. 1D) from housing 118 of a remotecontrol 110 and insert storage media 119 into a host device's peripheral124B (FIG. 1E). As soon as storage media 119 is inserted, an applicationautomatically starts and the interactive media's title screen isretrieved from storage media 119 and displayed on monitor 122 of hostdevice 120.

Alternatively, in a remote control associated with electronic contentencoded on a remote storage media, as soon as a button (such as button104 of remote control 100) is touched by a user, an applicationautomatically starts on host device 120 and communicates with a remoteserver to access the remote storage media. Either some portion or all ofan associated electronic content 133C is retrieved by the applicationand the title screen is displayed on monitor 122 of host device 120.Also, in some embodiments audio is displayed through speaker 124A. Thedisplay of audio depends on content of the selection available to theapplication running in host device 120.

Next, if button 104 on remote control 100 is pressed, a book "opens" onmonitor 122 (irrespective of whether local or remote storage media isbeing used). After the title screen, a first page 160 is displayed onmonitor 122 (FIG. 1G). First page 160 includes graphic content 164illustrating the fire truck and text content 162 which reads "Fred issleeping at the fire station."

When button 104 is pressed again, a sound recording of text content 162is displayed through speaker 124A (FIG. 1E), while graphic content 164and text content 162 continue to be displayed on monitor 122. Next timebutton 104 is pressed, the text and graphic content for page 2 aredisplayed (not shown). In this manner, preschool children can now enjoyinteractive media using just one simple button on the remote control.

In an alternative embodiment, pressing a button of a remote control asecond time turns the page on monitor 122 instead of the text contentbeing read to the user. In other alternative embodiments, othermultimedia events such as full motion video, sound effects and multiplechoice questions are presented to a user depending on when a button of aremote control is pressed and the programming of the selection andapplication.

In one embodiment of this invention, a picture book remote control canbe created from off-the-shelf children's sound books such as "Fred theFire Engine", "Cinderella" and "Pete the Police Car", commonly availablein bookstores such as Barnes & Noble Bookstore, 3600 Stevens CreekBoulevard, San Jose, Calif. 95117.

Children's sound books contain one or more sound buttons which, whenpressed, play sound (for example, the sound of a fire engine) through aspeaker inside the sound book. Such a children's book is modified tocreate a picture book remote control by removing all pages between thefront and back covers, modifying the sound buttons and optionally gluinga CD holder on the inside back cover of the sound book. The soundbuttons are modified by removing the existing sound electronics andsubstituting the remote control circuitry as described below. The CDholder can be any commercially available CD holder such as DIGIPAKavailable from AGI Inc. 153 2nd Street, Los Altos, Calif. 94022 (415)949-5870.

Although one embodiment of a picture book remote control is created bymodifying a children's sound book, in another embodiment of thisinvention, a picture book remote control is mass produced from variousnew materials. Although in one embodiment, a storage media holder isphysically attached to a printed publication, in another embodiment, theholder is formed integral with the printed publication and the button isphysically attached to the holder (FIG. 6H). In an alternativeembodiment, the buttons are formed integral with the housing of a remotecontrol (FIG. 7D).

An interactive media remote control with multiple buttons permits a widevariety and range of interactivity between a user and a host device. Themultiple buttons are mounted on a flexible printed circuit board whichis bound into the housing of the printed publication to form a remotecontrol for an interactive media. The number of buttons included in aremote control depends on the associated electronic content. Simplemultiple button remote controls (for example for two year olds) can havetwo, three or four buttons. More advanced remote controls can have anentire computer keyboard.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are illustrations of one embodiment of a multiple buttonremote control 200 in the closed and opened positions respectively.Remote control 200 includes a printed publication 210 which has a frontcover 221 and a back cover 222 joined by a spine 223. Outerside 221A offront cover 221 has text printed content 224 "THE THREE LITTLE PIGGIES".Remote control 200 has a number of buttons: NEXT button 225A, PREVIOUSbutton 225B, BEGIN button 225C and END button 225D, all of which aremounted on back cover 222 of printed publication 210.

Remote control 200 also includes remote control circuitry 226 andtransmitter 226A such that when any of buttons 225A, 225B, 225C and 225Dis pressed, a corresponding function identifying button code istransmitted via transmitter 226A. Remote control 200 has a height H_(P)=7.85 inch (FIG. 2A) with front cover 221 having a length L_(F) =6.6inch, back cover 223 having a length L_(B) =8.5 inch and spine 223having a width T_(S) =0.35 inch (FIG. 2B).

Mounted on inner side 221B of front cover 221 is a CD ROM holder 228 inwhich is removably mounted CD ROM 229. On inner side 222A of back cover222 is text and/or graphic printed content 227 which is part of printedpublication 210. Encoded in CD ROM 229 is associated electronic contenthaving a representative association with text and/or graphic printedcontent 227 and text printed content 224 of printed publication 210.

Physically attached to a surface of each of buttons 225A, 225B, 225C and225D is a corresponding text content 230A ("NEXT"), 230B ("PREVIOUS"),230C ("BEGIN") and 230D ("END"). For instance, when NEXT button 225A ispressed, remote control circuitry 226 causes a remote control buttoncode indicating the next page to be transmitted by transmitter 226A to ahost device 120 (FIG. 1E). The remote control button code is interpretedby host device 120 which computes the next page from the page currentlybeing displayed and then retrieves the corresponding electronic contentfrom CD ROM 229.

A similar previous page function is implemented on pressing PREVIOUSbutton 225B. When BEGIN button 225C is pressed, host device 120 looks upthe starting address for the selection, "THREE LITTLE PIGGY'S" andretrieves the electronic content for the title screen from CD ROM 229.Similarly, host device 120 retrieves the electronic content for the backcover when button 225D is pressed. The results of retrieval are thendisplayed to the user by host device 120. Therefore buttons 225A and225B allow a user to sequentially access the pages of selection "THETHREE LITTLE PIGGY'S" whereas buttons 225C and 225D allow the user todirectly access the beginning or the end of the selection.

Although picture book remote controls 100, 115 and 200 have beendescribed above as printed publication remote controls, they can also bedescribed as storage media remote controls (described below).

FIG. 3A is an illustrative perspective view of a button 301 for a singlebutton remote control (such as button 104 shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C). Inthe embodiment of FIG. 3A, button 301 is a large plastic button thatcontains all remote control circuitry enclosed in a self-contained unit.However, remote control circuitry can also be provided outside a button(FIGS. 2B and 7A).

Button 301 has an enclosure wall 308 (made of red plastic transparent toinfrared light in one embodiment of this invention). Button 301 has abutton surface 302 which is spring mounted and surrounded by enclosurewall 308. A graphic content 302A of a fire truck is physically attachedto button surface 302.

FIGS. 3B and 3C are the elevation and plan views of button 301 of FIG.3A. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, surrounded by enclosure wall 308 isremote control circuitry including a round printed circuit board (PCB)303 with electronic components, such as an infrared light emittingdevice (LED) 304 and a microcontroller 305. Infrared LED 304 is mountedat a location that ensures proper transmission of infrared signalsthrough button 301. Button 301 also includes a switch activatingprotrusion 306 attached to PCB 303. Although in FIG. 3B protrusion 306is attached to PCB 303, in another embodiment of this invention,protrusion 306 is attached to button surface 302.

Enclosure wall 308 acts as a guide for button surface 302 to permitreciprocating motion of protrusion 306 with respect to PCB 303. In theembodiment of FIG. 3C microcontroller 305 is mounted in die form on PCB303 to save space and ensure compact nature of button 301. Also, button301 is powered by two button cells 307A and 307B (FIG. 3C).

In one embodiment, infrared LED 304 is mounted facing a transparentsurface such as enclosure wall 308 (FIG. 3B) (or opposite a transparentbutton surface in an alternative embodiment). Button 301 can be formedfrom a sound button of an existing children's book by drilling a hole inbutton surface 302 of button 301 to accommodate infrared LED 304.Alternatively, infrared LED 304 can be mounted facing a hole in anenclosure wall 308, if necessary.

In accordance with this invention, instead of microcontroller 305, otherlogic circuits can be used such as an ASIC, a PLD or a FPGA(appropriately programmed). A microprocessor can also be used if desiredfor this function, although the cost will be higher than the cost of amicrocontroller.

Furthermore, instead of infrared LED 304, other types of wireless signaltransmitters such as a radio frequency transmitter or an ultrasonictransmitter can also be used in accordance with this invention.

Any sized button can be used in accordance with this invention. In onespecific embodiment, remote control button 301 is one inch in diameter.In another embodiment the whole surface of a front cover of a remotecontrol is a button (FIG. 7D).

Microcontroller 305 is normally in SLEEP mode. If a user pushes onbutton surface 302 of button 301 by a distance sufficient for protrusion306 to contact button surface 302, microcontroller 305 wakes up andsends a single button code by pulsing infrared LED 304. Microcontroller305 then immediately returns to SLEEP mode even before button 301 isreleased by the user.

In one embodiment of this invention, the button code sent bymicrocontroller 305 corresponds to the pressing of a mouse button on amouse connected to a host device. In one specific embodiment of apicture book remote control, the button code sent by the remote controlcorresponds to the button code generated by pressing a left mouse buttonin a mouse of an IBM personal computer (PC). However, in alternativeembodiments, the button's switch (formed by protrusion 306 and PCB 303)is connected to other pins on microcontroller 305 so that a differentbutton code is generated.

In accordance with this invention, any number can be used as a buttoncode as long as the corresponding application can recognize the receivednumber and perform the desired function (such as "STOP"). Although inone embodiment of this invention, the button code generated by eachbutton is unique, in other embodiments, the same button code can begenerated by more than one button to indicate the same desired functionand/or data.

One advantage of enclosing remote control circuitry inside button 301 isthat the switch and circuitry are combined into a single unit resultingin simplicity of design and cost savings. Also, a large sized buttonallows even pre-school children to easily use a remote control for aninteractive media.

FIG. 4A is an illustrative block diagram of one embodiment of a remotecontrol 400 for an interactive media being used with a host device 420.Remote control 400 includes a button 401 which includes a switch 402,and remote control circuitry 410 connected to each other byswitch-output line 403. Remote control circuitry 410 includes amicrocontroller 404 and a signal transmitter 406. Switch 402 isconnected by switch output line 403 to an input pin 404I ofmicrocontroller 404. An output pin 404O of microcontroller 404 isconnected by transmitter input line 405 to signal transmitter 406.

When button 401 is pressed by a user, microcontroller 404 detects theclosure of switch 402 via switch output line 403. Microcontroller 404then sends a signal to signal transmitter 406 via transmitter input line405. In one particular embodiment, signal transmitter 406 is an infraredtransmitter such as an infrared LED 304 (above).

Signal transmitter 406 transmits a wireless signal 407 to a host device420 (such as host device 120 of FIG. 1E. Host device 420 senses wirelesssignal 407 in a signal receiver 422. Signal receiver 422 is connected byreceiver output line 423 to microcontroller 424. On receipt of a signalfrom remote control 400, signal receiver 422 sends a signal on receiveroutput line 423 to microcontroller 424. Microcontroller 424 is connectedto a microcomputer 426 by microcomputer input line 425.

Microcomputer 426 includes several components such as a centralprocessing unit 427A (for example, Intel microprocessor 80486), a readonly memory (ROM) 427B in which is stored a basic input output system(BIOS), a display device 433 and main memory 435. Main memory 435contains an autostart driver 436, and an application 437. Microcomputer426 also has removable storage media peripherals 428 and 432 containingstorage media 428M and 432M respectively. Storage media 428M is a localstorage media which was removed by a user from a remote control andinserted into removable storage media peripheral 428, storage media 428Mincludes three files: DISGOKEY.EXE 429, DISGO.BAT 430, and BUSWEEK.EXE431 (described below). Storage media 432M is a boot disk containing anoperating system such as MICROSOFT™ DOS. All the components ofmicrocomputer 426 are operatively coupled to central processing unit427A through a bus, such as the well known ISA bus (not shown).

Also shown in FIG. 4A is a communication line 438 connecting host device420 to a remote server 439. Remote server 439 allows host device 420 toaccess remote storage media 439M which can be encoded with associatedelectronic content for remote control 400.

Microcomputer 426 passes to application 437 any button codes receivedfrom microcontroller 424. Application 437 interprets the received buttoncode as a user command such as a command to turn pages in the currentlydisplayed selection. Application 437 is a memory resident version of theexecutable application encoded in storage media 428M (such asBUSWEEK.EXE 431 described below).

FIG. 4B is an illustrative circuit diagram of remote control circuitry410 for one embodiment of a button 401 described above. Remote controlcircuitry 410 is formed on a PCB 303 supported on a housing of oneembodiment of a remote control, as described above. Microcontroller 404of remote control circuitry 410 has various pins including VB2 power pin404A, VB1 power pin 404B and FB3 reset pin 404C which are tied to thepositive terminal of power supply 307 (formed by batteries 307A and 307Bconnected in series). Microcontroller 404 is also connected through a X1pin 404J and X2 pin 404H to a resonator crystal 445 which causes anoscillator in microcontroller 404 to oscillate (in one embodiment at3.58 MHz).

Signal transmitter 406 (dotted line) includes an npn transistor 442, anLED 443 and a resistor 444. Transmitter input line 405 connects the baseof transistor 442 to SOUT/CD/FB2/C4 pin 404O of microcontroller 404. Thecollector of transistor 442 is connected to the cathode of LED 443. Theanode of LED 443 is connected to one end of resistor 444. The other endof resistor 444 is connected to the positive terminal of power supply307. The emitter of transistor 442 is connected to the negative terminalof power supply 307. The VSS pin 404G of microcontroller 404 is alsoconnected to the negative terminal of power supply 307.

Initially, the CR/RB/C2 input pin 404I of microcontroller 404 isinternally pulled down to ground by an internal resistor while theenable EB pin 404E of the microcontroller is forced high. Thereforemicrocontroller 404 is triggered when switch 402 is depressedsufficiently to short CR/RB/C2 pin 404O to EB pin 404E and force pin404I high. Such a closure of switch 402 causes a button interrupt toawaken software running in microcontroller 404. The software rapidlypulses transistor 442 via SOUT/CD/FB2/C4 pin 404O. Transistor 442 inturn causes infrared LED 443 to transmit a modulated infrared signal407.

In one embodiment, infrared signal 407 has the form of an infraredRS232C serial link at 1200 baud modulated with a 40 KHz carrier with 1'srepresented by 40 KHz square wave (25 pulses to 600 sec interval) and0's by zero volts. Approximately 800 m Amp of current flow through LED443, limited only by resistor 444. The current through LED 443 islimited by resistor 444 to approximately 400 m Amp. In anotherembodiment two transistors are used to increase current through LED 443as described in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/076,032filed Jun. 15, 1993 incorporated herein in its entirety.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4B, microcontroller 404 is a MotorolaMicrocontroller, M68HC05K0 available from Motorola Inc., SemiconductorProducts Sector 2100 E. Elliot Road, Tempe, Ariz. 85284. In FIG. 4Btransistor 442 is MMBT4401 also available from Motorola, Inc. InfraredLED 443 is NEC-SE1003C available from NEC Electronics, Inc., 475 EllisStreet, Mountain View, Calif. 94043, resistor 444 is a 1 ohm resistor,resonator 445 is a 3.58 MHz resonator Part # KBR 3.58MKS available fromKyocera America, 8611 Balboa Avenue, San Diego, Calif. 92123. Powersupply 307 is two 1.5 volt watch batteries connected in series, Part #GR927 available from Panasonic Industrial Co., 1600 McCandless Drive,Milpitas, Calif. 95035 (408) 946-7481. Switch 402 is Part # JPM 1110available from SMK Electronics Corp., 4633 Old Ironsides Drive, Suite403, Santa Clara, Calif. 95054.

One advantage of the circuit of FIG. 4B is its extremely low powerconsumption which allows the use of watch batteries 307A and 307B andresults in a compact size.. Also, use of microcontroller 404 withsoftware which emulates the MICROSOFT mouse (FIG. 4C and Appendix A),eliminates the need for a special driver to generate button codes fortransmission to a host device.

FIG. 4C is an illustrative flow chart of the software running inmicrocontroller 404 of FIG. 4A. As shown in FIG. 4C, microcontroller 404initializes variables in step 451 and then goes to step 453 via branch452. Microcontroller 404 then executes steps 453 and 456 in an infiniteloop as shown by branches 452, 455 and 457. In step 453, microcontroller404 waits for a button interrupt in a SLEEP mode. Microcontroller 404stays in step 453 as shown by branch 454, until a button interrupt isreceived.

As noted above, a button interrupt is generated when switch 402 isclosed by a user pressing on a button surface of button 401 (FIG. 4A).Once a button interrupt is received, microcontroller 404 goes via branch455 to step 456. In step 456, microcontroller 404 sends a button code byrapidly pulsing infrared LED 443. In one specific embodiment, a buttoncode includes a button press code and a button released code. The buttonreleased code is sent immediately following the sending of the buttonpressed code. After sending infrared signal 407 (FIG. 4A),microcontroller 404 goes back via branches 457 and 452 to step 453 wheremicrocontroller 404 continues in the SLEEP mode.

In an alternative embodiment of this invention, instead ofmicrocontroller 404 transmitting a button released code immediatelyafter a button pressed code, microcontroller 404 first transmits thebutton pressed code and when the button is released, a button releasedcode is transmitted, as shown by the software listed in Appendix A. TheAppendix A software can be compiled and linked by Motorola M68HC705KICSIn-Circuit Simulator available from Motorola, Inc. (at above address).

FIG. 4D is an illustrative circuit diagram for one embodiment of asignal receiver 422 in accordance with this invention. Signal receiver422 is described in detail in the co-pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 08/076,032 and filing date Jun. 15, 1993, referenced above,with 5.1K ohm resistor 463A added to pull TXD to -5V when transistor 470is off. Pin 3 on connector 469 is RXD.

Signal receiver 422 includes an infrared photodiode 461, amicrocontroller 424, a resonator 473, FETs 404 and 470, diodes 465 and466, LED 472, capacitor 468, resistors 463, 463A and 471 and a voltageregulator 467. Signal receiver 422 derives VCC power from the serialport of a microcomputer 426 (FIG. 4A). In one embodiment,microcontroller 424 is the Motorola Microcontroller M68HC05K0 (aboveaddress).

Resonator 473 is a 3.58 MHz resonator Part # KBR 3.58 MKS from KyoceraAmerica (above address). Infrared photodiode 461 is the module GPIU52Yavailable from Sharp Microelectronics, 5700 NW Pacific Rim Boulevard,Camas, Wash. 98607. Transistors 464 and 470 are MOS FET, 2N7002available from Motorola, Inc. (above address).

FIG. 4E is an illustrative flow chart 480 for the software running inthe microcontroller 424 of FIG. 4D. The software for FIG. 4E is listedin Appendix A and described in detail in the copending applicationreferenced above. The software can be compiled and linked by theMotorola M68HC705KICS (above address).

As seen from FIG. 4E, USOUT output of microcontroller 424 follows andinverts SIN input except when RTS goes low in which case an identifyingASCII byte "M" is output on USOUT.

In accordance with this invention, a user can place a storage media(such as CD-ROM 110) into a compatible peripheral of a powered up andbooted host device (such as host device 120) running an operating systemand automatically retrieve selections encoded in the storage media usinga remote control without touching any keys or switches of the hostdevice. To facilitate automatic detection of insertion of a storagemedia, a host device is installed during booting with an autostartdriver which periodically polls one or more peripherals of the hostdevice. In an alternative embodiment, the autostart driver is invoked byan interrupt from a removable storage media peripheral caused byinsertion of a storage media into the peripheral.

In one embodiment of this invention, all host devices are configuredwith an autostart driver (described below). The autostart driver isinstalled during the start up of a host device such as host device 120by inserting an instruction to install the autostart driver in"CONFIG.SYS" in a boot disk of host device 120. For example, theinstruction "DEVICE EQUALS C:\V6.000\AUTOSTRT.SYS" can be inserted inCONFIG.SYS for an IBM PC host device.

In one embodiment of this invention, a host device 120 executes step bystep each instruction illustrated by the flow chart 500 of FIG. 5A. Whena user turns on the power to host device 120, host device 120 powers upand performs self test in step 501. Then host device 120 goes via branch502 to step 503 where host device 120 executes firmware encoded in a ROMon the mother board of host device 120. Then host device 120 goes viabranch 504 to step 505 where host device 120 boots the operating systemfrom a storage media, wherein the storage media containing the operatingsystem can be either a removable storage media (such as a floppy disk)or a permanent storage media which is an integral part of host device120 (such as a hard drive). During booting, host device 120 checks forinitialization files such as startup files and configuration files. Onfinding a valid initialization file, host device 120 uses theinitialization file during booting. Then host device 120 goes via branch506 to step 507 where host device 120 installs an autostart driver (suchas driver 436) in main memory (such as memory 435). Then host device 120goes via branch 508 to step 509 where host device 120 executes theinstructions coded in the installed autostart driver.

Although not shown in FIG. 5A, host device 120 can execute severalinstructions unrelated to installing an autostart driver at variouspoints not shown in flow chart 500 (such as within branch 506 to installother drivers and within branch 508 to execute other drivers).

In one embodiment of this invention, an autostart driver in a hostdevice 120 detects insertion of a storage media and upon detection of astorage media such as CD-ROM 119 in a peripheral, seeks a file having afirst predetermined name such as, the unique symbol DISGO™. Apredetermined name is any name which is determined ahead of time andwhich is consistently used in the autostart driver and also incompatible storage media. In one embodiment of this invention, fileswith first and second predetermined names (such as DISGOKEY.EXE andDISGO.BAT) are present in a set of storage medias released by licenseesof the owner of this patent. At the very least, a file with secondpredetermined name (such as DISGO.BAT) must be present on a storagemedia to be compatible with an autostart driver which seeks a file ofthe second predetermined name DISGO.BAT in accordance with thisinvention.

Every file having the second predetermined name (such as DISGO.BAT 430of FIG. 4A) contains a sequence of application start-up instructions tobe executed to start an application for using selections encoded in theinserted storage media. In one embodiment of this invention, the filewith second predetermined name is executed by a user manually. Inanother embodiment of this invention, the file with second predeterminedname is executed by an autostart driver of a host device.

Application start-up instructions include for example the instruction to(1) start application either from the inserted storage media oralternatively from a remote server's storage media, (2) access aspecified location on the inserted storage media, (3) retrieve anddisplay certain selections contained at a location on the storage media,and/or (4) execute certain application instructions located in memory ofthe host device or in the storage media.

Prior to starting an application, the autostart driver can seek toidentify a security key to ensure the authenticity of the storage mediaand then execute the sequence of application start-up instructions oncethe security key has been correctly identified. For example, the keycould be a uniquely identifiable encoding in the inserted storage mediaof a copyright notice in file of a first predetermined name (driver 436)such as, DISGOKEY.EXE.

FIG. 5B is a flow chart of an autostart driver 510 running onmicrocomputer 426 of a host device 420 in accordance with thisinvention. Autostart driver 510 at first initializes variables in step511 and goes via branch 512 to step 513. In step 513, autostart driver510 enables interrupt from removable storage media peripherals. Aremovable storage media peripheral is any peripheral of a host deviceinto which a storage media can be removably and repeatedly inserted andwith drawn, for example drive A, drive B and a CD drive of an IBM PChost device 120.

Then autostart driver 510 goes via branch 514 to step 515. In step 515,autostart driver 510 waits for an interrupt from a removable storagemedia peripheral. Then on receipt of an interrupt, autostart driver 510goes via branch 516 to decision box 517. In decision box 517 autostartdriver 510 checks to see if a file of a first predetermined nameDISGOKEY.EXE is accessible from the removable storage media peripheralwhich caused the interrupt. If DISGOKEY.EXE is not accessible, autostartdriver 510 goes via branches 531 and 532 back to step 515 (describedabove).

If DISGOKEY.EXE is accessible in the removable storage media peripheralwhich caused the interrupt, autostart driver 510 goes via branch 518 tostep 519. In step 519, autostart driver 510 checks to see if a securitykey is present in a file of a first predetermined name on the storagemedia. For example, autostart driver 510 opens the file of firstpredetermined name, DISGOKEY.EXE and compares the bitmap in DISGOKEY.EXEwith a bitmap locally hard coded in autostart driver 510. Then autostartdriver 510 goes via branch 520 to decision box 521.

In decision box 521 autostart driver 510 checks if the bitmap inDISGOKEY.EXE was valid. If the bitmap in DISGOKEY.EXE was invalid,autostart driver 510 goes via branches 522 and 532 back to step 515(described above). Alternatively if DISGOKEY.EXE bitmap is valid,autostart driver 510 goes via branch 523 to decision box 524.

In decision box 524, autostart driver 510 checks to see if a file of asecond predetermined name DISGO.BAT is accessible from the removablestorage media peripheral which caused the interrupt. If DISGO.BAT is notaccessible, autostart driver 510 goes via branches 525 and 532 back tostep 515 (described above). If DISGO.BAT is accessible in the removablestorage media peripheral which caused the interrupt, autostart driver510 goes via branch 526 to step 527.

In step 527 autostart driver 510 stores the peripheral name in whichDISGO.BAT was found and in which DISGOKEY.EXE was found valid into avariable X. For example, autostart driver 510 can store the drive letterA in variable X if a removable-storage media containing DISGO.BAT and avalid DISGOKEY.EXE was inserted in drive A of IBM PC host device 120.

Then autostart driver 510 disables the interrupt that were enabled instep 513. The disabling of interrupts allows autostart driver 510 toexecute an application without being interrupted by user insertion of aremovable storage media. Then autostart driver 510 goes via branch 528to step 529. In step 529 autostart driver 510 executes the commandX:DISGO.BAT which executes instructions in DISGO.BAT of the removablestorage media inserted by a user into the peripheral of host device 120.DISGO.BAT in turn loads into main memory at least a portion of thesoftware of the application encoded on the inserted storage media andthen passes control to the application. The application interprets thebutton codes of the wireless signal transmitted by a user pressing anassociated button of a remote control (as described below) in accordancewith this invention.

Once the application has terminated, control returns from theapplication to step 529 of autostart driver 510. Autostart driver 510goes via branch 530 back to step 513 (described above) which allowsautostart driver 510 to continue to be responsive to the insertion of astorage media into a peripheral of host device 120.

In another embodiment of this invention, in step 529, instead of theautostart driver executing the instructions in DISGO.BAT as shown inFIG. 5B, the autostart driver starts up or spawns a new process whichexecutes the instructions in DISGO.BAT.

When autostart driver 510 fails to find a DISGO.BAT or fails to find aDISGOKEY.EXE or if DISGOKEY.EXE bitmap is invalid, autostart driver 510returns to step 515 (as noted above) so that a user can invoke otherapplications encoded on a removable storage media in the conventionalmanner, thus bypassing the automatic startup feature provided byautostart driver 510.

In an alternate embodiment of this invention, an autostart driver 510skips steps 517, 519 and 521 in which a security key is checked. In suchan embodiment, autostart driver 510 goes from step 515 via branch 533(shown dotted) to step 523.

FIG. 5C shows an alternative embodiment of an autostart driver 540 inaccordance with this invention. Autostart driver 540 is similar toautostart driver 510 except that instead of setting up and waiting oninterrupts from removable storage media peripherals, autostart driver540 sets up a timer interrupt and waits on the timer interrupt, therebyperiodically checking the peripherals of a host device such as hostdevice 120.

Autostart driver 540 initializes variables in step 541 and goes viabranch 542 to step 543. In step 543, autostart driver 540 sets a timerperiod to one second. Then autostart driver 540 goes via branch 544 tostep 545. In step 545 autostart driver 540 enables the timer interrupt.

Then autostart driver 540 goes via branch 546 to step 547. In step 547autostart driver 540 waits for a timer interrupt. Then autostart driver540 on receiving an interrupt from the timer (which occurs after onesecond, the timer period set in step 543) autostart driver 540 goes viabranch 548 to step 549. In step 549, autostart driver 540 sets thecurrent peripheral variable to the name of the first removable storagemedia peripheral in host device 120. Then autostart driver 540 goes viabranch 550 to decision box 551. In decision box 551 autostart driver 540checks to see if the file DISGOKEY.EXE is present in the peripheralhaving the name in the current peripheral variable. If autostart driver540 is unsuccessful (either because a storage media is not present inthe current peripheral or the file DISGOKEY.EXE is not present in thestorage media) then autostart driver 540 goes via branch 552 to decisionbox 553.

In decision box 553 autostart driver 540 decides whether all removablestorage media peripherals of host device 120 have been checked duringthe current timer interrupt. If autostart driver 540 finds that not allthe removable storage media peripherals have been checked, autostartdriver 540 goes via branch 554 to step 555. In step 555 autostart driver540 increments the current peripheral variable by setting the peripheralname of the next removable storage media peripheral to the currentperipheral variable. Then autostart driver 540 goes via branch 556 and550 back to decision box 551 (described above). If all of the removablestorage media peripherals have been checked in decision box 553, thenautostart driver 540 goes via branch 571 to step 547.

If DISGOKEY.EXE was found by autostart driver 540 in decision box 551,autostart driver 540 goes via branch 557 to step 558. Step 558, branch559 and decision box 560 are similar to step 519, branch 520 anddecision box 521 (described above in reference to FIG. 5B). If autostartdriver 540 is unsuccessful in decision box 560, autostart driver 540goes via branch 561 to decision box 553 (described above). If autostartdriver 540 is successful in decision box 560, autostart driver 540 goesvia branch 562 to decision box 563. In decision box 563, autostartdriver 540 checks if DISGO.BAT is present in the current peripheral. Ifautostart driver is unsuccessful in decision box 563, autostart driver540 goes via branch 564 to decision box 553 else autostart driver 540goes to step 566 via branch 565.

In step 566 autostart driver 540 stores the name of the peripheral inwhich DISGO.BAT was found in variable X and disables the timer interruptenabled in step 535. Then autostart driver 540 goes via branch 567 tostep 568 which is similar to step 529 (FIG. 5B). Once the applicationhas completed, and control has returned to autostart driver 540,autostart driver 540 goes via branch 569 to step 545 described above.

In an alternative embodiment of autostart driver 540, decision box 551,step 558 and decision box 560 are skipped by using branch 570 (showndotted) to go from step 549 to step 563.

Although in FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C, the host device is shown beingconfigured with an autostart driver which is a separate executableimage, the instructions to a host device shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5Ccan be issued in other forms suitable for the host device (such ascommands to the operating system).

Although in one embodiment of this invention, the autostart driverincludes instructions executed by a central processing unit, in analternative embodiment, the host device includes a first hardwired logicwhich detects insertion of a storage media into a peripheral. A secondhardwired logic checks the inserted storage media for a file of a firstpredetermined name and compares a bitmap in the file with a bitmapstored in a read only memory. In another embodiment, there is a thirdhardwired logic which checks for a file of a second predetermined name.In one specific embodiment of this invention, the first, second andthird hardwired logics are all included in the peripheral's hardware andgenerate an autostart interrupt to the central processing unit on asuccessful result. On receipt of the autostart interrupt, the centralprocessing unit executes the file of the second predetermined name fromthe peripheral which generated the autostart interrupt.

FIG. 5D shows the contents of the file with second predetermined nameDISGO.BAT 430 which is invoked in step 524 by autostart driver 510 andin step 563 by autostart driver 540. DISGO.BAT 430 contains theoperating system command 574 which reads "X:". Operating system command574 changes the current default drive to the drive in which a storagemedia has been inserted. The next command in DISGO.BAT 430 is operatingsystem command 575 which reads "\busweek". Operating system command 575initiates the running of an application encoded as BUSWEEK.EXE 431 (FIG.4A).

While in one specific embodiment of this invention, the application isencoded as BUSWEEK.EXE 431, other file names (such as FIREBOOK.EXE) canbe used for an application so long as the same name is consistently usedin operating system command 563 in file with second predetermined nameDISGO.BAT 430 (which contains the application startup instructions whichstart the application for using selections on the inserted storagemedia).

Therefore when an autostart driver is installed in a host device, thisinvention allows applications encoded in compatible storage media (asdescribed above) to start up automatically without any additional userinput, soon after a storage media is inserted into a peripheral of thehost device. Therefore once a host device is powered up, booted andinstalled with an autostart driver, a user need not touch any keys orswitches of a host device, and can merely insert a storage media tostart an application in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 5D also illustrates a copyright notice 564 which is used as asecurity key bitmap and which is compared with an identical copyrightnotice bitmap locally hard coded in autostart drivers 510 and 530.

One advantage of the autostart driver of this invention is that the userneed not have any computer knowledge to start an application. Pre-schoolchildren can now enjoy interactive media without even toggling a powerswitch (for example, merely inserting a storage media into a hostdevice). Although an autostart driver is used to start an applicationfor a remote control in one embodiment of this invention, an autostartdriver can also automatically start other applications such as LOTUS1-2-3™ and Word Perfect™ if so programmed.

An application for displaying selections encoded on a storage media is asimple software program which stores and manipulates many types of dataincluding: graphics files for the pictures, text files for the captions,sound files for captions (for a picture interactive book) and videorecording files.

One embodiment of a remote control intended for educative interactivemedia includes associated electronic content of drawings and voicerecordings of words, numbers and/or facts. The selections of words,numbers and/or facts, drawings and voice recordings are organized bycategory (such as a category of "FISH" selections and another categoryof and "BIRDS" selections) and each category is accessed by a differentbutton.

FIG. 5E illustrates a flow chart for one embodiment of an application570 for use with a remote control entitled "Teach Your Baby to Read"which has associated electronic content containing twenty categories,each category containing 200 selections, each selection containing apicture, text, video recording and voice recording. When a storage mediacontaining the associated electronic content is inserted, application576 initializes in step 577 and displays the title screen of theinteractive media in step 578. Application 576 then waits for a buttoncode from the remote control in step 579. On receiving an appropriatebutton code, in step 580 application 576 randomly picks one of the 20categories as the current category. Next in step 581, the applicationrandomly picks one of 200 selections of words from the current category.

Next in step 582, application 526 displays the associated videorecording from the current selection. Next in step 583, application 576displays the picture from the current selection and waits for onesecond. In step 584 application 576 displays the associated text fromthe current selection. Then in step 585, application 576 displays theassociated voice recording from the current selection. In step 586,application 576 increases the selection count and compares the selectioncount with 10 to see if ten selections have been displayed. If tenselections have not been displayed, application 576 takes branch 587 andreturns to step 581. If the word count indicates that ten selectionshave been displayed, application 576 goes from step 586 via branch 588to step 578.

In an alternative embodiment the application is driven by an interruptcaused by receipt of a button code instead of a wait for one second (instep 583) prior to displaying the voice recording.

An application similar to application 576 is used with a picture bookremote control. Instead of randomly selecting and displaying a word, thepicture book application sequentially displays the cover page, then thefirst selection and then the second selection and so on, until allselections are displayed and then the back cover is displayed, afterwhich the front cover is again displayed. Such an application implementsthe functions indicated by the buttons on the remote control, such as"NEXT", "PREVIOUS", "BEGIN" and "END" (shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B on adifferent remote control).

FIGS. 5F, 5G and 5H illustrate the electronic content which can be usedwith an application 576 shown in FIG. 5E. As shown in FIG. 5F,electronic content 590 includes fish category 591, birds category 592and flowers category 593. As shown in FIG. 5G, birds category 592includes a parrot selection 595, pigeon selection 596 and blue jayselection 597. As shown in FIG. 5H, a blue jay selection 597 includes apicture file 597A, text file 597B, video recording file 597C and voicerecording file 597D.

Application 576 can be used with electronic content 590 wherein birdscategory 592 is randomly selected from the various categories in step580. Then in step 581, a blue jay selection 597 is randomly selectedfrom category 592. Then in step 582 video recording 597C is retrievedfrom a storage media containing electronic content 590 and displayed tothe user on a display device (suitable for displaying a videorecording). Then in step 583 application 576 displays picture 597A fromselection 597 on the display device. Then in step 584 application 576displays text 597B from selection 597 on the display device. Next instep 585 application 576 displays a voice recording 597D from selection597.

FIG. 6A illustrates a storage media remote control 600 in accordancewith this invention. Such a storage media remote control 600 includes alocal storage media 603 and a storage media housing 601. In FIG. 6A,local storage media 603 is shown highlighted (double circle) to indicatethat the storage media is an essential feature included in remotecontrol 600. A storage media remote control 600 is similar to printedpublication remote control 10 (above) except that storage media housing601 can be in any arbitrary shape and size including a holder designedto hold a storage media. Storage media housing 601 is inclusive of butis not limited to a printed publication. Human understandable content ofhousing 601 can be in any form such as text and/or graphics which areengraved, laminated and/or printed on housing 601.

Storage media housing 601 can be any housing that can removably hold astorage-media such as a printed publication with a CD-ROM holder, anaudio/video CD box and the jacket of a floppy disk. Storage mediahousing 601 has human understandable content such as text and/or graphiccontent.

Storage media remote control 600 also includes one or more button(s) 602and associated electronic content encoded on a local storage media 603.Button(s) 602 have a physical attachment 604A to storage media housing601. Also, button(s) 602 have a visual association 604B to the humanunderstandable content of storage media housing 601.

Each of buttons 602 can include a switch connected to remote controlcircuitry supported by housing 601. The remote control circuitry iscapable of transmitting a wireless signal with an encoded button codefrom remote control 600 to a host device (not shown in FIG. 6A) having asuitable peripheral to retrieve selections from local storage media 603.Therefore there is a remote electronic association 605 between button(s)602 and associated electronic content encoded on local storage media603. There is a representative (descriptive/derivative) association 606between the human understandable content of housing 601 and associatedelectronic content encoded on local storage media 603.

FIGS. 6B and 6C are illustrations of one embodiment of a storage mediaremote control 610 in the closed position and open positionrespectively. Storage media remote control 610 is intended forpre-school children and is called "TRAINS, PLANES and AUTOMOBILES".Storage media remote control 610 has four buttons 612A, 612B, 612C and612D visually associated with text content "TRAIN", "FIRE TRUCK","HELICOPTER" and "AIRPLANE" respectively located adjacent to therespective buttons. Buttons 612A, 612B, 612C and 612D of storage mediaremote control 610 are mounted on back cover 613A and are accessiblethrough holes 612AH, 612BH, 612CH, and 612DH in front cover 611B whenstorage media remote control 610 is shut. As front cover 611B and backcover 613A form a printed publication, storage media remote control 610can also be described as a printed publication remote control (describedabove).

A storage media in the form of a floppy disk 614 includes a magneticdisk 614M (dotted line) enclosed in a floppy disk housing 614H. Floppydisk 614 is removably mounted in a floppy disk cavity formed by innerperiphery 614I of back cover 613A. Floppy disk 614 can be inserted intoa floppy drive of a host device to make the associated electroniccontent encoded in floppy disk 614 accessible to the host device.

The associated electronic content in floppy disk 614 includes fourselections namely, a train selection, a fire truck selection, ahelicopter selection and an airplane selection. There is a remoteelectronic association between each of four buttons 612A, 612B, 612C and612D and a corresponding one of the four selections encoded in floppydisk 614. As buttons 612A, 612B, 612C and 612D are data buttons, storagemedia remote control 610 can also be described as a data button remotecontrol (described below).

Pressing TRAIN button 612A causes an associated button code to betransmitted by storage media remote control 610. An application on ahost device responds by displaying a train selection from floppy disk614. A train selection can include a drawing, a caption word and/orsentence, an audio recording, and/or a video recording of a train. Inone specific embodiment, on receiving the button code of train button612A, the application displays a thirty second full motion videorecording of a train accompanied by high-quality sound.

FIGS. 6D and 6E are illustrations of two embodiments of storage mediaremote controls 615 and 617 which hold a storage media in accordancewith this invention. Storage media remote controls 615 and 616 includeprinted publications with integral storage media holders built into theprinted publications. Therefore storage media remote controls 615 and617 can also be described as printed publication remote controls(described above).

Storage media 615 has a holder with an inner periphery 616I which formsa cavity for holding a game cartridge storage media 616. Storage media617 has an inner periphery 618I which forms a cavity for holding aCD-ROM storage media 618.

FIGS. 6F, 6G and 6H illustrate an alternative embodiment of a storagemedia remote control 640 (henceforth "periodical remote control").Periodical remote control 640 can contain electronic content similar tothe articles in a conventional magazine. Periodical remote control 640has a front cover 641 (FIG. 6F) and a back cover 642 physically attachedto each other. In one embodiment, front cover 641 and back cover 642 arethe front and back covers of a conventional magazine (such as NEWSWEEK,TV GUIDE and. READER'S DIGEST).

In another embodiment, an outer side 641A of front cover 641 has a lookand feel similar or identical to the outer side of the front cover of aconventional magazine, and outer side 642A of back cover 642 similar tothe outer side of a conventional magazine's back cover (anadvertisement). In one embodiment, there are no pages inside periodicalremote control 640.

On inner side 641B of front cover 641 (FIG. 6H) is mounted a storagemedia 649 in the form of a CD ROM. The rest of the inner side 641B offront cover 641 looks similar to the table of contents of a conventionalmagazine. Inner side 641B of front cover 641 has a text content 647Awhich reads "CONTENTS" and a graphic content 647B which is a photograph.Front cover inner side 641B and back cover inner side 642B identify anumber of electronic content selections encoded in storage media 649.

In the specific embodiment of periodical remote control 640 shown inFIG. 6H, each selection is identified by text and graphic content in theform of a title, a summary and a photograph. For example, a firstselection is identified by title 646A1, summary 646A2, and photograph646A3. A second article selection is identified by title 646B1, summary646B2 and photograph 646B3.

The inner side 642B of back cover 642 also identifies additionalselections such as a third article selection with title 646C1, summary646C2 and photograph 646C3. Three other selections with titles 646D1,646E1 and 646F1, with summaries 646D2, 646E2 and 646F2, and photographs646D3, 646E3, and 646F3 are also identified on back cover 642.

In another embodiment, periodical remote control 640 is a catalog ofproducts with each selection including a video recording of the product,the title (such as title 646C1) being the product's name, the summary(such as summary 646C2) being a product description and the photograph(such as photograph 646C3) being a photograph of the product.

In accordance with this invention, physical attachments 14A, 604A and674A can be implemented by the adhesion of printed ink to the surface ofa button and visual associations 14B, 604B and 674B implemented by thelocation of the printed content directly on the button surface.

In one embodiment of this invention, each of the text and/or graphiccontent is printed on the surface of a button capable of causing awireless signal to be transmitted by remote control 640. For example,title 646A1, summary 646A2 and photograph 646A3 are each printed on abutton surface different from each other. In one embodiment, each of thebuttons identifying a given selection cause the same button code to betransmitted. In another embodiment, each of the buttons identifying agiven selection are all printed on a single button surface.

In one specific embodiment of this invention, the buttons of aperiodical remote control are membrane buttons available from EECOMembrane Switch Operations, 2949 N. 31st Ave., Phoenix, Ariz. 85017.Front cover 641 and back cover 642 include a heat stabilized polyestermembrane on which text and photographs are screen printed, an uppercircuit of heat stabilized polyester on which conductive inks are screenprinted, a spacer die cut layer of dielectric, a lower circuit layer ofheat stabilized polyester on which conductive inks are screen printed,an adhesive layer and a bottom mounting layer. Such a periodical remotecontrol can be made using membrane switches as described in "Designer'sSpecification Guide" available from EECO Membrane Switch Operations,2949 North 31st Avenue, Phoenix, Ariz. 85017, which is incorporatedherein in its entirety.

In an alternative embodiment, front cover inner side 641B and back coverinner side 642B are touch panels which when touched cause a wirelesssignal to be transmitted (as described below in reference to FIGS. 7D,7E, 7F, 7G and 7H).

Back cover inner side 642B has an array of buttons 643, which can bealphanumeric buttons arranged in a manner similar to conventional PCkeyboards or a conventional telephone keypad. Back cover inner side 642Balso has other buttons such as arrows 644A, 644B, 644C and 644D whichpermit a user to remotely move a cursor on monitor 122 (FIG. 1E). Alsoprovided on back cover innerside 642B are special function buttons:SELECT button 645A, SKIP button 645B, REPEAT button 645C and INFO button645D.

Back cover innerside 642B supports a remote control circuitry 648 whichincludes infrared LED 648A (covered by a surface transparent to infraredlight), a microcontroller 648B and batteries 648C and 648D, allconnected in the manner described below (in reference to FIG. 7A). Inone embodiment of this invention, the periodical remote control is paperthin and is flexible (using a flexboard instead of a printed circuitboard).

Therefore, the buttons for a periodical remote control are simplyregions on the Table of Contents printed on the front and back covers ofa remote control. To use periodical remote control 640, the user removesstorage media 649 from a holder built into front cover 640 and insertsstorage media 649 into a host device such as host device 120 (FIG. 1E).In another embodiment of a periodical remote control, there is nostorage media and holder, and the host device access associatedelectronic content from a remote server (FIG. 1E).

In one specific embodiment, a Business Week remote control has a CDstorage media. The host is a 3DO game platform with a video CD playeravailable from Panasonic Company of America, 6550 Katella Ave., Cypress,Calif. 90630. To use the Business Week remote control, the user insertsthe CD into the video CD player of the 3DO game platform (which has beenbooted and installed with an autostart driver).

As soon as a storage media of a periodical remote control is insertedinto a peripheral of a host device 150 (FIG. 1F), monitor 141 displays a30 second preview of major selections available in the inserted storagemedia. Thereafter, the application in host device 150 displays acontinuous commercial break which involves randomly selecting anddisplaying forever, one of 40 commercials encoded in the insertedstorage media. Each commercial has a format identical to a televisioncommercial.

The continuous commercial break continues until the user selects anarticle by pressing one of the article selecting buttons in the Table ofContents of the periodical remote control. For example, to display aselection described in title 646A1, summary 646A2 and photograph 646A3,a user merely touches any one of touch sensitive regions 646A1, 646A2 or646A3.

When any one of the touch sensitive regions is touched, periodicalremote control 640 sends a wireless signal to host device 120. Anapplication in host device 120 retrieves from storage media 649 anarticle preview selection which is a 30-second preview of the articleindicated by the touched region and displays the retrieved results.Double touching of a touch sensitive region retrieves the articleselection rather than the article preview selection. An articleselection can include an hour long real TV program which is displayed onmonitor 122. During display of an article selection in one embodiment, acommercial selection is randomly retrieved and displayed every fewminutes, interrupting the display of the article selection.

While a selection is being displayed, touching a SKIP button 645B causesperiodical remote control 640 to send a wireless signal which causes thehost device application to skip the selection currently being displayedand jump to a continuous commercial break (where random commercials areautomatically played until another article selection is indicated by theuser). If SKIP button 645B is pressed during a commercial interruptionof an article selection display, the interrupted article selectiondisplay is resumed.

If SKIP button 645B is pressed during a continuous commercial break, thecurrently playing commercial is interrupted (skipped) and anotherrandomly selected commercial is started immediately.

If REPEAT button 645C is pressed during a continuous commercial break,the commercial selection currently being displayed is interrupted andthe commercial displayed immediately previous to the current commercialis displayed.

Pressing INFO button 645D starts a DETAIL mode program that opens up adialog box (not shown) on monitor 141 which allows the user tointeractively access more detailed information about the product beingadvertised. For example, in one embodiment the user is presented with aform to be filled out to create a purchase order of the product beingadvertised. Once the user fills out the form, host device 120automatically communicates with the advertiser via modem 144A and phoneline 145A. In another embodiment of this invention, the DETAIL modedialog box permits access to a complete index of advertisers from whichthe user can interactively choose a desired commercial selection to bedisplayed.

Pressing INFO button 645D during display of an article selection opens aDETAIL mode dialog box which provides detailed information about thearticle selection being currently displayed.

Pressing REPEAT button 645C during display of a commercial selectionresults in the commercial selection previously displayed to bere-displayed immediately. REPEAT button 645C can be pressed multipletimes to sequentially go backwards to any commercial selectionpreviously displayed (up to 255 commercials with wrap-around).

A special preview selection provides a preview of all the articleselections encoded in storage media 648. The preview selection has anormal television commercial selection format (similar to a 30 secondsynopsis of the television show "60 minutes").

In one embodiment of this invention, a periodical remote controlincludes a front cover, a back cover and printed pages between the frontcover and back cover. The printed pages are identical to the pagesbetween the covers of the conventional printed version of a magazine.Some of the printed pages are normal printed pages while other printedpages are touch sensitive pages. The printed pages-containing the Tableof Contents are touch sensitive (as described above).

Although periodical remote control 640 has been described above ashaving a removable storage media 648 another periodical remote controlin accordance with this invention has all of the features of periodicalremote control 640 except for storage media 649 and the correspondingholder.

FIG. 6I illustrates an alternative embodiment of a storage media remotecontrol 636 in the form of a multi-page book having a front cover 637, apage 638 and a back cover 639. On front cover 637 are mounted a CD ROM637A and buttons 637B, 637C and 637D. Page 638 has buttons 638A, 638B,638C and 638D. On back cover 639 are mounted buttons 639A and 639B andremote control circuitry 639C (which includes components such as, amicrocontroller and an infrared LED). Although only one page 638 isshown in FIG. 6J, multi-page remote control 636 can have any number ofpages in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 6J shows one embodiment of a storage media remote control 660 inaccordance with this invention. Storage media remote control 660 is inthe form of a CD box with a front cover 661, a spine 662 and a backcover 663. Mounted on spine 662 is an LED 662A, a microcontroller 662Band a battery 662C. Mounted on the inside of front cover 661 aremembrane buttons 664A, 664B, 664C, and 664D corresponding to "I WANT TOHOLD YOUR HAND" song name 665A, "HARD DAYS NIGHT" song name 665B,"REVOLUTION" song name 665C and "WHEN I AM SIXTY-FOUR" song name 665D ofmusic video selections encoded in CD 663A. CD 663A is removably mountedon the inside of back cover 663.

To enjoy to a music video selection encoded in CD 663A, a user removesCD 663A from remote control 660 and inserts CD 663A in a suitableperipheral of a host device, such as CD drive 121 of host device 120. Ontouching one of membrane buttons 664A, 664B, 664C, and 664D amicrocontroller 632B sends a selection identifying button code via LED632A to an application running in host device 120 to identify thedesired selection. The application on host device 120 retrieves thedesired music video selection and displays the results through speaker124 and/or monitor 122. A similar format can be used for an audio onlyCD in accordance with this invention. One advantage of a storage mediaremote control is that the normal channels of sales, such as a CD musicstore a book store and a newspaper stand can be used to sell suchstorage media remote controls.

In alternative embodiments of this invention a remote control caninclude a CD containing a catalog, a dictionary or an encyclopedia. Anapplication which displays specific information sought by the user whenthe user presses one or more buttons on the remote control can bedistributed on the storage media of the remote control in addition toarticle selections. Once such an application is running on the hostdevice, touching a button on the remote control causes the desiredselection encoded in the CD to be retrieved and displayed on a monitorof the host device.

FIG. 6K illustrates a data button remote control 670 in accordance withthis invention. Data button remote control 670 includes a housing 671having data selecting content (text/graphic), one or more data button(s)672 and data specific associated electronic content 673. Housing 671 canbe a housing of any arbitrary shape or size and includes but is notlimited to storage media housings and printed publications. In FIG. 6K,data button(s) 672 are shown highlighted (double circle) to indicate thedata button feature included in remote control 670.

Data button(s) 672 have a physical attachment 674A to housing 671. Also,data button(s) 672 have a visual association 674B with the dataselecting content of housing 671. Data button(s) 672 have remoteelectronic association 675 with associated electronic content 673.

Data specific associated electronic content 673 has data selecting(descriptive/derivative) association 676 with housing 671. Data specificassociated electronic content 673 can be encoded in a local storagemedia or a remote storage media accessible via a remote server.

Any data button remote control 670 in accordance with this invention isnot limited to having only data buttons and can also include otherfeatures such as function selecting text/graphic content andcorresponding function buttons.

One advantage of a data button remote control is that the user need notread instructions in a manual. Also the user need not remember thesyntax and semantics of commands to be typed to retrieve a desiredselection. Moreover the user need not remember the names of theselections. By simply touching a button visually associated with a dataselecting content, the user can get instantaneous access to the desiredselection. Therefore a data button remote control is simple and utilizesthe user's intuition rather than knowledge of commands and file names ofselections usually given in an instruction manual. A data button remotecontrol also makes interactive media easier to create, market and use(as discussed below).

The above described storage media remote control 660 is an embodiment ofa data button remote control because buttons 664A, 664B, 664C and 664Dare data buttons each of which has a remote electronic association witha music video recording selection encoded on CD 663A.

Periodical remote control 640 is also a data button remote controlbecause buttons such as 646A1, 646A2, 646A3, 646B1, 646B2, 646B3, 646C1,646C2 and 646C3 are data buttons, each of which has a remote electronicassociation with an article selection (data) encoded on CD-ROM 648.

FIG. 6L illustrates a globe remote control 680 which is anotherembodiment of a data button remote control 670. Globe remote control 680includes a housing 681 which has imprinted on it data selecting graphiccontent 682A, 682B, 682C and 682D. Housing 681 is a spherical globeshowing the various continents of the planet earth. Data selectinggraphic content 682A is illustrative of the South American continent.Data selecting graphic content 682B is illustrative of the NorthAmerican continent. Data selecting graphic content 682C is illustrativeof the African continent. Data selecting graphic content 682D isillustrative of the Atlantic Ocean.

Globe remote control 680 also includes data buttons 683A, 683B, 683C and683D which are membrane buttons connected to remote control circuitry(not shown in FIG. 6L). Each of data buttons 683A, 683B, 683C and 683Dis physically attached to one of data selecting graphic contents 682A,682B, 682C and 682D of housing 681. Each of data selecting graphiccontents 682A, 682B, 682C, and 682D has a visual association with databuttons 683A, 683B, 683C, and 683D respectively because each data buttonis located on the graphic content associated with the data button.

Pressing one of data button 683A, 683B, 683C, and 683D results in remotecontrol 680 transmitting an associated button code to a host device suchas host device 120. An application in host device 120 retrievesassociated electronic content which is representative of the graphiccontent associated with the pressed button. For example, if a button683B is pressed, a selection (such as a video recording) of the NorthAmerican continent is retrieved by host device 120 from a local orremote storage media and the results are displayed on a monitor. In onespecific embodiment of this invention, remote control 680 includes astorage media holder 684 encased within spherical housing 681 forholding a local storage media.

FIG. 6M illustrates electronic content 685 associated with globe remotecontrol 680. Associated electronic content 685 can be encoded in a localor remote storage media accessible to a host device. Associatedelectronic content 685 includes South America category 686A, NorthAmerica category 686B, Africa category 686C and Atlantic Ocean category686D and application 687.

In one embodiment, a user can decide a category and touch a data buttonwhich has an association with the category. Each of categories 686A,686B, 686C and 686D contains a button code 686A₋₋ 1, 686B₋₋ 1, 686C₋₋ 1and 686D₋₋ 1 respectively which when equal to a button code receivedfrom a globe remote control 680 causes application 687 to randomlyselect and display a selection from the category identified by thereceived button code.

FIGS. 6N and 6O illustrate orbiter remote controls 690 and 696 which aretwo embodiments of a data button remote control 670 in accordance withthis invention. Orbiter remote control 690 (FIG. 6N) includes a housing691 having data selecting text content 692A (which reads "MARS"), 692B(which reads "JUPITER"), 692C (which reads "MOON"), 692D (which reads"EARTH"), 692E (which reads "SATURN") and 692F (which reads "PLUTO").

Data selecting text content 692A of orbiter remote control housing 691,has a data selecting descriptive/derivative association with selection699A in associated electronic content 699 (although for remote control690, associated electronic content 699 is stored on a remote storagemedia). Similarly data selecting text content 692B, 692C, 692D, 692E and692F each has a data selecting descriptive/derivative association withrespective selections 699B, 699C, 699D, 699E and 699F of (FIG. 6P).

Orbiter remote control 690 also includes buttons 693A, 693B, 693C, 693D,693E and 693F each of which is a data button physically attached tohousing 691. Furthermore, each of data buttons 693A, 693B, 693C, 693D,693E and 693F has a visual association with data selecting text content692A, 692B, 692C, 692D, 692E and 692F of housing 691.

Remote control 690 includes function selecting text/graphic content suchas arrows 694A, 694B, 694C, and 694D "START" text 694E, "ORBIT" text694F and "LAND" text 694G which are visually associated with functionbuttons 695A, 695B, 695C, 695D, 695E, 695F and 695G respectively. Inaddition housing 691 has "STOP" text 694H which is also associated withfunction button 695E, so that function button 695E acts as a togglebetween STOP and START functions.

Orbiter remote control 696 shown in FIG. 6O is similar to Orbiter remotecontrol 690 of FIG. 6N. Orbiter remote control 696 has data buttons697A, 697B, 697C, 697D, 697E and 697F visually associated with "MARS"text content 696A, "JUPITER" text content 696B, "MOON" text content696C, "EARTH" text content 696D, "SATURN" text content 696E and "PLUTO"text content 696F respectively. Orbiter remote control 696 also hasfunction buttons 697G, 697H, 697I, 697J, 697K, 697L and 697M. Orbiterremote control 696 also includes a storage media holder 698 in the formof a PCMCIA card holder in which is slideably mounted PCMCIA card 698M.Encoded on PCMCIA card 688M is the associated electronic content 699(FIG. 6P).

As shown in FIG. 6P, associated electronic content 699 containsselections 699A, 699B, 699C, 699D, 699E and 699F. These selections 699A,699B, 699C, 699D, 699E and 699F are for orbiter remote controls 690 and696 and include video recordings and environmental parameters for thesolar system components: Mars, Jupiter, Moon, Earth, Saturn and Plutorespectively. Each of selections 699A, 699B, 699C, 699D, 699E, and 699Fhave a data selecting descriptive/derivative association with thecorresponding data selecting text content of the orbiter remote controls690 and 696. Each of selections 699A, 699B, 699C, 699D, 699E and 699Fhave remote electronic associations with the corresponding data buttonsof the orbiter remote controls 690 and 696.

In one specific embodiment of this invention, each of selections 699A,699B, 699C, 699D, 699E and 699F includes a button code 699A₋₋ 1, 699B₋₋1, 699C₋₋ 1, 699D₋₋ 1, 699E₋₋ 1 and 699F₋₋ 1 which is compared to abutton code received from a remote control in order to determine thespecific environmental parameters and video recordings to be used byorbiter software 699K. Orbiter software 699K is a video game softwareselection which displays a video game of an Orbiter flight simulator inthe environment of a solar system component.

Software for navigation function selection 699J, START functionselection 699I, ORBIT function selection 699H and LAND functionselection 699G has a remote electronic association with function buttons697G, 697H, 697J, 697I, 697K, 697L and 697M.

A block diagram of the components of multi-button remote control inaccordance with this invention is similar to the block diagram shown inFIG. 4A and which has been described above.

FIG. 7A is a plan view of a four button printed circuit board (PCB) 700for use in a four button remote control such as remote controls 200,610, 615, 617 and 636 described above. PCB 700 is similar to PCB 303shown in FIG. 3C. except that instead of being enclosed inside a button,PCB 700 has a rubber key pad 701 with buttons 701A, 701B, 701C, and701D. Also provided on PCB 700 are an infrared LED 703, amicrocontroller 705 and watch batteries 702A and 702B connected tobuttons 701A, 701B, 701C and 701D.

FIG. 7B is an illustrative circuit diagram for one embodiment of a multibutton remote control. The circuit diagram in FIG. 7B is similar to thecircuit diagram in FIG. 4B described above. Instead of a single button402 of FIG. 4B, 24 buttons can be connected by the circuit of FIG. 7B. Amatrix of buttons 711 as well as buttons 712A, 712B, 712C, 712D, 713A,713B, 713C, and 713D are each connected to two pins of microcontroller404. For example, button 712A is connected to pins 404E₋₋ 1 and 404I₋₋ 1and button 712B is connected to pins 404E₋₋ 2 and 404I₋₋ 2.Microcontroller 404 pulses transistor 442 with a specific button codesignal when a button (such as button 712C) is depressed to short twopins (such as pins 404E₋₋ 1 and 404I₋₋ 3). Transistor 442 in turn causesinfrared LED 443 to transmit an encoded infrared signal 407.

FIG. 7C is an illustrative flow chart of the software running inmicrocontroller 404 of FIG. 7B. Software for implementing the flow chartof FIG. 7B is listed in Appendix A. The software can be compiled andlinked by Motorola M68HC705KICS. Microcontroller 404 starts at step 721and goes via branch 722 to step 723. In step 723 microcontroller 404initializes variables. Then microcontroller 404 goes via branch 724 tostep 725. In step 725 microcontroller 404 goes to SLEEP mode and wakesup when it receives an interrupt when a button is pressed.

On waking from SLEEP mode, microcontroller 404 goes via branch 729 tostep 730. In step 730 microcontroller 404 determines the identity of thepressed button by checking every combination of two pins to find thepins that are shorted to each other. (Appendix A).

For example, microcontroller 404 determines that button 712D isdepressed applying a high signal (logic 1) to EB pin 404E₋₋ 1 andchecking whether SOUT/CD/FB2/C4 pin 404O is high (logic 1).Microcontroller 404 is triggered from a sleep state by setting pins404E₋₋ 1, 404E₋₋ 2, 404I₋₋ 4, 404I₋₋ 5, 404I₋₋ 6 and 404I₋₋ 7 to highand by tying pins 404I₋₋ 1, 404I₋₋ 2, 404I₋₋ 3 and 404O to a buttoninterrupt. Then microcontroller 404 goes from step 730 via branch 731 tostep 732. In step 732 microcontroller 404 sends a button code viainfrared LED 443 only once and then goes via branch 733 and branch 724back to step 725.

A multi-button remote control (such as remote control 640) can be usedwith a host device having a receiver (illustrated in FIG. 4D) and whichuses the software illustrated in FIG. 4E in a microcontroller.Furthermore, an autostart driver (such as autostart driver 500Adescribed above) can be used to automatically start the application forusing a multi-button remote control.

FIG. 7D illustrates a touch panel 740 which can form buttons on frontcover innerside 641B and back cover innerside 642B of the remote control640 of FIGS. 6E, 6F and 6G. Touch panel 740 is similar to conventionalcomputer touch screens and includes two sheets 741 and 742 attached toeach other. In one embodiment of a remote control including touch panel740, the buttons and housing have a physical attachment (such asphysical attachments 14A, 604A and 674A of FIGS. 1A, 6A and 6Krespectively) formed by printing, engraving, or otherwise attaching thehousing content-directly to sheet 741 and/or sheet 742.

Sheet 741 includes a clear mylar sheet 741A with a conductive coating ofindium tin oxide 741B. Similarly sheet 742 includes a clear mylar sheet742A with a conductive coating of indium tin oxide 742B. Sheets 741 and742 are separated and electrically insulated from each other by smallnipples such as nipples 743A, 743B, 743 C, 743D, and 743E which aremolded in sheet 742.

Sheet 741 has a first terminal 741C and a second terminal 741D at twoopposite edges (FIG. 7E). A resistance 741R is formed by the indium tinoxide between the first terminal 741C and the second terminal 741D ofsheet 741. Similarly sheet 742 has a first terminal 742C and a secondterminal 742D (FIG. 7F) formed at the edges of sheet 742 such that aresistance 742R is formed between terminals 742C and 742D. When sheets741 and 742 are assembled together to form touch panel 740, any objectsuch as a human fingertip touching touch panel 740 results in sheet 741making contact with sheet 742 at the point of the touch, such as point744 in FIG. 7G.

The coordinates of point 744 in the coordinate system 745 are determinedby the following method: connect terminal 742C to VCC (or logic 1) andterminal 742D to ground and measure the voltage on terminal 741D todetermine the X coordinate. Next connect terminals 741 and 741D to VCCand ground respectively and measure the voltage on terminal 742C (or742D) to determine the Y coordinate. The measured voltage provides thelocation of the X coordinate or the Y coordinate because the measuredvoltage varies depending on the location of the point of touch. Acontact between sheet 741 and 742 effectively results in a voltagedivider as shown in FIG. 7G for the X axis.

The number of buttons formed from touch panel 740 are limited only bythe resolution of the voltmeter used to measure the voltage. In oneembodiment of this invention as described below in reference to FIG. 7H,up to 255 positions can be determined individually in each of X and Ydirections resulting in a total of 65,536 possible buttons. Furthermore,in accordance with this invention, an arbitrarily shaped button can beformed by associating the points which fall within the button's shapewith the same button code of the button.

FIG. 7H illustrates one embodiment of a remote control circuit 750 for aremote control using the touch panel of FIGS. 7D-7G. Remote controlcircuit 750 includes touch panel 740 with terminals 741C and 742Cconnected via resistors 751B and 751A to EY input pin 753B and EX inputpin 753A respectively of microcontroller 753. Terminals 741D and 742Dare connected to X input pin 753D and Y/WAKE pin 753C of microcontroller753. Terminals 741D and 742D are also connected via capacitors 751D and751C to the negative terminal of battery 758. Remote control circuit 750also has a resonator 752 connected between X1 input pin 753E and X2input 753F.

Microcontroller 753 has a VSS pin 753G connected to the negativeterminal of battery 758. Microcontroller 753 has a RES pin 753J and a VBpin 753I connected to the positive terminal of battery 758.

Microcontroller 753 has an SOUT pin 753H connected to the base oftransistor 756. The collector of transistor 756 is connected to thecathode of diode 755. The anode of diode 755 is connected via a resistor754 to the positive terminal of battery 758. The emitter of transistor756 is connected to the negative terminal of battery 758. Battery 758has a capacitor 757 connected across its positive and negativeterminals.

The component ratings for the various components shown in FIG. 7H arelisted in TABLE 1:

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                        COMPONENT         RATING                                                      ______________________________________                                        Capacitors 751C, 751D                                                                           1 μF                                                     Capacitor 757     22 μF                                                    Resistor 7S1A     1.5 KΩ                                                Resist6r 751B     680 Ω                                                 Resistor 754      0.8 Ω                                                 Transistor 756    MMBT4401                                                    Battery 758       3 V                                                         Resonator 752     KBR3.58 MKS                                                 Microprocessor 753                                                                              XC68 HC 705K0                                               Photo Diode 755   NEC-SE 1003                                                 Touch Panel 740   GM Name Plate Zinc Oxide                                    ______________________________________                                    

In one embodiment of this invention, remote control circuit 750 includesa touch panel available from GM Name Plate, 2095 O'toole Avenue, SanJose, Calif. 95131, (408) 435-1666.

During operation, remote control circuit 750 is normally in a low powerSLEEP mode with EX input pin 753A and Y/WAKE pin 753C pull down enabledand positive edge trigger interrupt enabled. EY pin 753B and X pin 753Dare set to output high (logic 1).

When panel 740 is touched, an electrical connection is made betweenterminals 741C and 741D on top sheet 741 and terminal 742D on bottomsheet 742. Therefore touching causes terminal 742D to be pulled up whichgenerates a wake up interrupt to microcontroller 753.

When microcontroller 753 wakes up, the X and Y coordinates of the pointbeing touched are determined as follows. The Y axis coordinate of thetouched point is determined in two steps. First the Y axis capacitor751C is charged to a voltage V_(Y) set by a voltage divider formed byconnecting terminals 741C and 741D to power and ground respectively.Resistor 751B limits the voltage V_(Y) to VCC/3.

During this first Y axis step, pins 753A, 753B, 753C and 753D have thefollowing values: X pin 753D is at logic 1, EY pin 753B is at logic 0,Y/WAKE pin 753C is an input and EX pin 753A is an input. The values foreach of the steps are listed in TABLE 2 (I denotes high impedanceinput):

                  TABLE 2                                                         ______________________________________                                        COMMENT      GET X      GET Y     SLEEP                                       ______________________________________                                        CHARGE       Y = 1      X = 1     X = 1                                                    EY = I     EX = I    Y = 0                                                    EX = 0     EY = 0    EY = 1                                                   X = I      Y = I     EX = I                                      DISCHARGE    Y = I      X = I     X = 1                                                    EX = I     EY = I    Y = I(PD)                                                X = I      Y = I     EY = 1                                                   EY = 0     EX = 0    EX = I                                      ______________________________________                                    

During the second Y axis step, capacitor 751C discharges through theresistor formed by touch panel 740 between terminals 742D and 742C.During the discharge of capacitor 751C, microprocessor 753 measures theduration of time (for example 500 microseconds) for capacitor 751C to gofrom voltage V_(Y) (for example 2.5 volts) to the logic thresholdvoltage of Y/WAKE pin 753C (logic 1, for example 1.5 volts).

The X coordinate is also measured in two steps in a similar manner.Capacitor 751D is used to measure the X axis coordinate and resistor751A limits the minimum voltage V_(X) to VCC/3. The charge and dischargelogic levels for the X coordinate are also shown in TABLE 2.

FIG. 8A is an illustrative flow chart for the high level control logicof an application 830 running in a host device 120 for using a remotecontrol in accordance with this invention. Application 830 can be usedas an application for a four button remote control, such as remotecontrols 610, 615, 617, 660 and 680 described above.

Application 830 can be started up by a user or automatically eitherimmediately following a boot up sequence or by an autostart driver ondetection of an inserted storage media. Application 830 initializesvariables in step 831 and goes via branch 832 to step 833. In step 833application 830 displays the front cover and goes via branch 834 to step835. In step 835 application 830 waits until a button code is receivedfrom a remote control.

If a button code is received, application 830 goes via branch 836 tostep 837. In step 837 application 830 checks the received button code tosee if a first button (such as button 664A of FIG. 6J) was pressed. Ifthe first button was pressed, application 830 goes via branch 838 tostep 839. In step 839 application 830 retrieves the selection associatedwith the first button (such as a "SONG A" selection if button 664A waspressed) from local (or remote storage media) and displays the retrievedselection. In one embodiment the application displays the audiorecording for "Song A" through speaker 124 and optionally displays anassociated video recording (if present on CD 663A) through monitor 122.Then application 830 goes via branches 840 and 841 back to step 833.

If in step 837 the first button was not pressed, application 830 goesvia branch 842 to step 843. In step 843 application 830 checks to see ifa second button (such as button 664B of FIG. 6J) was pressed. If thesecond button was pressed, application 830 retrieves and displays theassociated selection (such as a "SONG B" selection). Then application830 goes via branches 846 and 841 back to step 833.

Steps 843, 848 and 853 are similar to step 837 and steps 845, 850 and855 are similar to step 839. Therefore application 830 takes theappropriate actions if the second, third or fourth buttons are pressedin a manner similar to that described above for the first button.

In one specific embodiment of an application for picture book remotecontrol 610, each time train button 612A is pressed, the applicationretrieves and displays a different video selection of a train which isselected at random from a category of selections of train videorecordings. Such an application allows children to watch selections fromthe categories of fire engines, trains, airplanes and helicopters byjust pressing one of the four buttons 612A, 612B, 612C and 612D ofremote control 610. One advantage of such a multiple button remotecontrol 610 is that children have a choice and can watch a scene (suchas a scene of a train) as long as they want or watch a different videorecording of a train by repeatedly pressing the same train button 612A.

An application similar to application 830 can also be used with othertypes of remote controls such as remote control 636, 680, 690, and 696.For example, an application for remote control 636 (FIG. 6I), wouldmerely have several additional steps corresponding to each of buttons637B, 637C, 637D, 638A, 638B, 638C, 638D, 639A and 639B.

Furthermore, an application can make function calls to implement variousfunctions rather than displaying selections retrieved from a storagemedia. For instance, instead of displaying a first selection in step 839of application 830, another application could make a function call whichperforms a first function indicated by a first button. Therefore anapplication for remote control 200 would have a call to a next pageaddress calculating function for implementing the "VNEXT" function/dataattributes of the first button 225.

FIG. 8B illustrates the electronic content encoded on a storage media649 of a periodical remote control 640 of FIGS. 6H, 6F and 6G. Storagemedia 649 is identical to storage media 428M (FIG. 4A). As describedabove, when storage media 649 is inserted into CD drive 122 of hostdevice 120, a security key stored in DISGOKEY.EXE 429 is first confirmedand then, DISGO.BAT 430 is executed. DISGO.BAT 430 starts up anapplication 860, included in BUSWEEK.EXE 431. BUSWEEK.EXE 431 alsoincludes the selections of associated electronic content for remotecontrol 640.

The selections of the associated electronic content in BUSWEEK.EXE areorganized in several categories: commercial category 857, articlepreview category 858 and article category 859. Each of commercialselections 857B, 857C and 857D is a 30 second full motion videorecording from an advertiser (of a product or service). A previewcommercial selection 857A is a video recording from the publisher of theperiodical remote control and contains highlights of all the articleselections encoded in storage media 648 (FIG. 6G). Each article previewselection 858A, 858B, and 858C is a 30 second full motion videorecording which summarizes the contents of the corresponding articleselection. Article selections 859A and 859B include full length (forexample, 20 minute) TV program type video recordings. A commercialselection and/or an article selection can include a DETAIL mode videorecording and/or a DETAIL mode form and/or a DETAIL mode software (asdescribed below).

A DETAIL mode is a display mode which is more interactive or whichprovides more information than a normal mode of display. In a DETAILmode software for a commercial selection, the user can be presented witha window through which the user can navigate to look up variousproducts, prices, phone numbers and names from an electronic catalog. ADETAIL mode form provides more detailed information about the article orcommercial selection. A DETAIL mode form can include an interactive formfilling program which allows a user to order the article or servicebeing advertised in a commercial selection. Alternatively, a DETAIL modeform can contain text corresponding to a video article identical to thetext in the print version of the magazine. Such text can be displayed onmonitor 122 or printed on printer 124E (FIG. 1E). A DETAIL mode videorecording includes long infomercials. For example, a DETAIL mode videorecording can include a one hour long infomercial for Nike™ shoes whichcontains an interview with a gold medal winner from the last olympicsand an interview with a doctor. For example FIG. 8B illustrates anarticle selection 859A including a full motion video recording 859A₋₋ 1on energy conservation and a DETAIL mode software 859A₋₋ 2 for computingthe savings in electricity bills for each user depending on the user'sgeographic location. Similarly article selection 859B includes a fullmotion video recording 859B₋₋ 1 and text content 859B₋₋ 2 which is thefull text of the print version of the article.

FIG. 8C is an illustrative flow chart for the high level control logicof an application 860 running in a host device 120 in accordance withthis invention.

When started, application 860 initializes variables in step 861 and goesvia branch 862 to step 863. In step 863, application 860 chooses thepreview commercial selection 857A as the current selection. Thenapplication 860 goes via step 864 to step 865. In step 865, application860 displays the chosen selection.

In one embodiment of this invention, a randomly selected commercial isdisplayed during an article selection display at preselected points inthe article. An article selection can contain function calls to afunction for displaying commercial selections at the preselected pointsin the article display. The call to a commercial displaying function isinserted at appropriate points in an article selection by an author ofthe article selection (as described below). In another embodiment ofthis invention, instead of a call to commercial displaying function, atag of a unique sequence of digits is inserted.

Application 860, in step 865 (FIG. 8C) continuously compares the databeing displayed with the unique sequence of digits which denotes afunction call (or a tag). Once application 860 finds the function call(or tag), the article display is interrupted and a randomly selectedcommercial recording from the commercial category 857 is displayed.After displaying the commercial selection, application 860 resumesdisplay of the interrupted article selection.

Then application 860 goes to step 866 to check if the display of thecurrent selection is finished. While selection is displaying via 865,application 860 loops continuously, checking for a tag/done signal fromcomparison step 865. If commercial tag is detected, application 860 goesvia 868B and 870 to 871. Else, if the current selection display is done,application 860 goes via steps 867 and 878 to step 868. In step 868,application 860 checks to see if the current selection is an articleselection by checking an IN₋₋ ARTICLE flag. If an article selection isbeing currently displayed, application 860 goes via branch 869 back tostep 865. Application 860 clears the IN₋₋ ARTICLE flag when the displayof an article is completed.

If an article selection is not being displayed, then application 860goes from step 868, via branch 870 to step 871 where a commercialselection is randomly chosen, and then retrieved and displayed in step865. The steps 871, 865, 866, 868A and 868 implement a continuouscommercial break which displays one commercial selection after anotheruntil a button code is received. The continuous commercial break featureis very advantageous for advertisers because of continuous display ofcommercials during user inaction.

If application 860 has not finished display of the currently chosenselection, application 860 goes from step 866 via branch 873 to step874. In step 874 application 860 checks to see if a button code wasreceived from remote control 640. If a button code was not received,application 860 goes from step 874 via branch 875 and branch 897 back tostep 865. If a valid button code was received, application 860 goes fromstep 874 via branch 876 to step 877.

In step 877, application 860 checks to see if the button code receivedfrom remote control 640 indicates that SKIP function button 645B waspressed. If SKIP function button 645B was pressed, application 860immediately terminates the selection being currently displayed and goesfrom step 877 via branch 878 to step 868 (described above). Therefore auser can press SKIP function button 645B to skip a commercial that hasrudely interrupted an article being displayed to the user. Pressing skipwhile in an article terminates the article and application 860 goesdirectly to a continuous commercial break. If the received button codedoes not correspond to the SKIP function button 645B, application 860goes from step 877 via branch 879 to step 880.

In step 880, application 860 checks to see if the received button codecorresponds to the INFO function button 645D. If the button codes matchin step 880, application 860 goes via branch 881 to step 882. In step882, application 860 increments the DETAIL mode level which indicatesthe level at which an article or a commercial is being displayed.

After incrementing the DETAIL mode level in step 882, application 860goes via branch 883 and branch 897 back to step 865. Although theapplication is back in the same selection as before, the DETAIL mode isnow higher than when application 860 was last in step 865.

In one specific embodiment of this invention, DETAIL mode level 0 forcommercial selections indicates a 30 second commercial, while DETAILmode level 1 indicates an infomercial and a DETAIL mode level 2indicates an interactive form to be filled by a user (for example toorder the product being advertised in a commercial).

In an alternative embodiment, an application is programmed to performadditional functions in the increased DETAIL mode level. For example, inDETAIL mode 1, the application continues displaying the currently chosenselection and also displays in a window an order form or an 800telephone number if a commercial selection was being displayed.

Alternatively, an application can execute a software selection whichsends a fax through phone line 145A (FIG. 1G) to order the productcurrently being advertised. In another embodiment, an application showsa menu that allows a user to input information about attributes of theadvertised product (such as shoe size) to be ordered for the user.

In one specific embodiment of this invention, an application sends anorder for a product via facsimile using fax card 144B and phone line145A (FIG 1F). A user's credit card number is automatically filled in bythe application, if a user so desires (after asking for a password insome embodiments).

In an increased DETAIL mode level, application 860 can display a formwhich provides additional information about the advertised product, suchas the price and shops in the local neighborhood where the product isavailable.

The DETAIL mode is decremented when the current selection completes. TheDETAIL mode is also decremented when a commercial is terminated due touser input, for example if SKIP function button 645B is pressed by theuser. Once the DETAIL mode has been decremented, the next selection isdisplayed in the normal mode unless INFO function button 645D is pressedby the user during display of the current selection.

In one specific embodiment of this invention, when an inventor pressesINFO function button 645D, during a NIKE infomercial, an interactivewindow with a form for ordering shoes is presented. In this manner, anambitious advertiser can have several levels of DETAIL mode selectionsstacked one after another which are accessed by using INFO functionbutton 645D in each level. Less ambitious advertisers can choose not toimplement INFO function button 645D so that pressing INFO functionbutton 645D causes nothing to change and the 30 second commercial runsto its conclusion with a little window in a corner displaying the textcontent "no detail available".

The DETAIL mode can be implemented for an article selection, wherein thenormal level of the DETAIL mode (e.g. level 1) is associated with avideo, and the next higher level of the DETAIL mode is associated withthe full text of the article in the print version of the magazine.Pressing INFO function button 645D multiple times eventually rotatesback to level 0. In one embodiment of this invention, a user can searchfor keywords in article selections using keypad 643 to enter the keywordto be searched (FIG. 6G). In one embodiment for articles, a DETAIL modeof 0 indicates an article preview selection, a DETAIL mode of indicatesarticle selections 1 and a DETAIL mode greater than 1 indicates moreinformation than normal. An article preview selection is displayed whena user single clicks on an article in a periodical the remote control(as discussed below).

Referring back to FIG. 8C, if the button codes do not match in step 880,application 860 goes via branch 884 to step 885. In step 885,application 860 checks to see if the received button code indicates thatREPEAT function button 645C was pressed. If the button codes match instep 885, application 860 goes via branch 886 to step 887. In step 887,application 860 selects the most recently displayed commercialselection. Then application 860 goes from step 887 via branches 888 and897 back to step 865. Therefore in step 865, the previous commercialwill be displayed. In one embodiment of this invention, application 860keeps track of 255 most recently displayed commercials (in reversechronological order).

If the button codes do not match in step 885, application 860 goes viabranch 889 to step 890. In step 890, application 860 checks to see if anarticle button was double clicked. If there was a double click in step890, application 860 goes via branch 894 to step 895. In step 895,application 860 selects the article indicated by the button codereceived from remote control 640 and sets the IN₋₋ ARTICLE flag. Thenapplication 860 goes via branches 896 and 897 back to step 865.

If, however, there was no double click in step 890, application 860 goesvia branch 891 to step 892. In step 892, application 860 selects thearticle preview commercial indicated by the button code received fromremote control 640. Then application 860 goes via branch 893 and 897back to step 865.

Application 860 makes it easy to convert existing magazines and TVprograms to interactive media format, for remote controls which are easyto market and easy to use (as discussed below).

To author an application for a picture book remote control one simplyhas to do the following:

1. Create the pictures, scan them into a computer and store them inseparate files;

2. Write the captions for each page and store each in a separate file;

3. Record the voice for each caption (using a PC sound card) and storein separate disk files;

4. Run a Compiler Engine to generate an application.

FIG. 9A is an illustrative data flow diagram for an interactive mediaapplication development system 900. Application development system 900is used in accordance with a method 910 illustrated in FIG. 9B.Application development system 900 includes a data input system 901 andan application authoring system 906. Data input system 901 includes ascanner 902, a camera and full motion video card 903, a microphone andsound card 904 and a word processor 905. In one specific embodiment ofthis invention, application development system 900 includes an IBM PC.

In one specific embodiment of this invention an application 909 createdby application creation engine 908 includes high level control logic909A, and selections 909B, 909C, 909D, 909E, 909F and 909G all combinedinto a single executable image.

To create an application 909 an author can use a scanner 902 and/orcamera and full motion video card 903 and/or microphone and sound cardand/or 904 and/or word processor 905 depending-on the application to becreated. In step 911 of method 910, the author uses a scanner 902. (FIG.9A) to produce picture files such as picture files 902A, 902B and 902Cin step 911 (FIG. 9B). Scanner 902 can be any commercially availablescanner such as, HP ScanJet IIcx scanner available from Hewlett PackardCompany, 16399 W. Bernardo Drive, San Diego, Calif. 92127. Scanner 902converts color pages into digitized data for the picture files.

Next in step 912, (FIG. 9B) an author uses camera and full motion videocard 903 to create video files 903A, 903B and 903C which have fullmotion imagery. Camera and full motion video card 903 is anycommercially available video card such as, Real Magic MPEG full-motionvideo card available from Future Tel. Corp., (402) 522-1400, 1092 E.Arques Avenue, Sunnyvale, Calif. 94086.

Next, in step 913, an author uses microphone and sound card 904 tocreate sound files 904A, 904B and 904C. Microphone and sound card 904can be any commercially available audio card such as, ProAudio Spectrum16 audio card available from Media Vision, Inc., 47300 Bayside Parkway,Fremont, Calif. 94538. Sound card 904 digitizes and plays back soundsand voices input by an author.

Next, in step 914, the author uses a word processor 905 to create textfiles 905A, 905B and 905C. Word processor 905 can be any commerciallyavailable word processor such as, WordPerfect available from WordPerfectCorporation, 155 N. Technology Way, Orem, Utah 84057. Word processor 905is used to type text content.

Files 902A, 902B, 902C, 903A, 903B, 903C, 904A, 904B, 904C, 905A, 905B,and 905C all contain digitized data which are input to applicationauthoring system 906. Application authoring system 906 includes anauthor interface 907 and an application creation engine 908. Applicationcreation engine 908 receives commands from an author via authorinterface 907 and uses data files 902A, 902B, 902C, 903A, 903B, 903C,904A, 904B, 904C, 905A, 9053, and 905C from data input system 901 tocreate an application 909. Application 909 contains the associatedelectronic contents for the remote control being created.

In step 915, an author starts application authoring system 906. Then instep 916, an author selects the type of remote control to be createdfrom a menu (not shown) which lists a single button remote control and amultiple button remote control as two choices.

Next, in step 917, an author associates the buttons on a remote controlsuch as remote control 100 with the data files from the data inputsystem 901 to create an application such as application 909. Step 917 isillustrated in detail for two different applications: flow chart 917Aillustrates the steps to create an application for a single buttonremote control while flow chart 917B illustrates the steps to create anapplication for a multiple button remote control. Flow charts 917A and917B are discussed in detail below.

Next in step 918 the author selects a create command from a menu (notshown) of application authoring system 906 to generate a master disk ortape which includes application 909. Then in step 919 an author deliversthe master disk or tape to a service bureau for duplication. Theduplicated disks or tapes containing application 909 can be encased in aholder of a remote control or alternatively, transferred to storagemedia connected to remote servers which permit access by users' hostdevices.

FIG. 9C illustrates a screen 907A of author interface 907 for creatingan application for a single button remote control. Initially an authorselects from menu bar 924, format menu 924B. On selecting format menu924B, a drop down list box (not shown) appears which allows an author toselect one of several predetermined layouts of the function/data buttonsfor single or multiple button remote control. Each of these layouts canbe illustrated in screen 931A when an author scrolls through the variouschoices. For example, the drop down list box for format menu 924B caninclude choices of "single button picture book remote control","periodical remote control" and "multiple button remote control". Instep 916 (FIG. 9B) the author selects the type of remote control fromformat menu 924B.

After selecting the layout of the function/data buttons for a remotecontrol, an author must indicate whether to start a new remote controlor to work on an existing remote control from drop down list box 933 forfile menu 924A. Once a choice has been indicated in drop down list box933, the current file directory is selected and dialog box 925 ispresented to the author.

Dialog box 925 includes screen 931A, authoring boxes 938A and authoringbuttons 939A. Dialog box 925 follows the well known design conventionsfor MICROSOFT Windows and for the APPLE MacIntosh. In the top leftcorner, dialog box 925 has a system bar 921 which allows an author toexit author interface 907 by double clicking. Furthermore, dialog box925 has adjacent to system bar 921, a title bar 922A which shows thename of the application being created. Just below title bar 922A in menubar 924 is presented current book format 923A "Single Button PictureBook" (as soon as the author makes a selection in format menu 924B).

Dialog box 925 also includes a set of authoring boxes 938A (at the rightside of FIG. 9C). Authoring box set 938A includes prompt legends 926,927, 928, 929 and 930 and corresponding input boxes 926A, 927A, 928A,929A and 930A. Box 927A is a drop down list box which lists all of thevalid page numbers available for the current book. Furthermore, boxes928A, 929A and 930A are drop down list boxes which contain the lists ofgraphics files, sound files and text files respectively.

In one specific embodiment of this invention, picture files 902A, 902B,and 902C are named with the extension .TIF, sound files 904A, 904B and904C have the extension .WAV and text files 905A, 905B and 905C have theextension .TXT. Once a valid set of data files are displayed in a dropdown list box, an author can select a particular entry in the box bydouble clicking on the entry. For example, in drop down list box 930A,to select text file "page5.txt" the author double clicks on entry 930A1as shown in FIG. 9C.

In step 917A1 (FIG. 9B) an author specifies the number of pages for apicture book remote control application in input box 926A. In step917A2, an author chooses the current page to be worked on in box 927A.Box 927A displays all of the valid pages which can be programmed for thepicture book remote control such as, a front cover, page 1, page 2, page3, and back cover. In one embodiment of this invention, when an authorselects the current page of the application to be worked on, that pageis automatically associated with the single button of the remotecontrol.

In step 917A3, an author associates the single button of the remotecontrol and associated current page to a graphic file containing theimage to be displayed in the current page by double clicking on thegraphics file in box 928A. Then in step 917A4, an author associates thesingle button and the current page to a sound file containing an audiorecording to be displayed in the current page by double-clicking on thesound file in 929A. Finally, in step 917A5, an author associates thesingle button and the current page to a text file by double-clicking onthe text file in box 930A.

For example, if a ten page picture book remote control application is tobe created, an author types the number 10 in box 926A, and to work onpage 5 the author double clicks on the number 5 in box 927A.

Once a data file has been associated with the current page the data filecan be accessed through screen 931A (FIG. 9C). For example, as soon as agraphics file is selected in window 928A, the graphics data aredisplayed on edit screen 931. As another example, when a text file isselected in window 930A, the text file is displayed (overlapping thegraphics in the same screen 931A). In one specific embodiment of thisinvention, the text 932 from text file 930A1 can be moved or the sizechanged using "handles" 932A, 932B, 932C and 932D in the conventionalmanner established for MICROSOFT Windows and for APPLE MacIntosh. Forexample, to move text 932, the cursor is positioned on text 932 and theleft mouse button is held down while a mouse (such as mouse 129) ismoved.

Also included in dialog box 925 are preview buttons 939A, which includePlay button 935, Next button 936 and Previous button 937. Play button935 displays the sound file associated with the current page. In theexample of FIG. 9B, selecting Play button 935 causes the sound file"page5.wav" to be displayed through the speaker/headphone (not shown).Next button 936 and previous button 937 permit an author to move toanother page such as the next page or the previous page of the currentapplication.

The application for a single button picture book remote control createdby method 910 (FIG. 9B) results in an interactive media in which thepages are arranged in a specific sequential order. The pages areretrieved and displayed sequentially on the receipt of a wireless signalfrom the button on the remote control. Therefore, although a singlebutton is linked to all pages, an application retrieves and displaysonly the next page in sequential order after the current page when abutton code is received.

In one embodiment of this invention, an application 549 for picture bookremote control 100 can be authored as follows. The cover and insidepages of an existing children's book can be scanned and each pagegraphic saved in a separate file having the extension "TIF", such as,for example "COVER.TIF", "PAGE1.TIF", "PAGE2.TIF", and "PAGE10.TIF".Next the text on each of the pages of the children's book can be read bythe author and recorded with each voice recording being stored in aseparate file, having the extension "WAV" such as, for example"COVER.WAV", "PAGE1.WAV", PAGE2.WAV" and "PAGE10.WAV".

Files COVER.TIF, COVER.WAV, PAGE 1.TIF, PAGE 2.WAV, PAGE 10.TIF and PAGE10.WAV from the above steps can be used to create the application byusing Compel, a commercial business presentation software published byAsymetrix Corporation of 110-110th Avenue, NE Suite 700, Bellevue, Wash.98004.

Compel has a menu driven interface. To create an application 549, ablank slide is first created using various Compel menus and dialogboxes. For example, Compel dialog box "Effects" is used to choose "SlideMedia Links" which is a pull down menu in Compel. Then "Trigger Event"is chosen which is a pull down scroll box and in menu Trigger Event, theaction "Leave Slide" is chosen. When an action is chosen, a pull downscroll box is displayed containing all the data files. One of thesefiles called "Page 2.WAV" can be then selected. Then the Import GraphicCommand is used to select "Page 2.TIF" to insert a graphic image on theblank slide. For a cover, Compel "import" and "graphic" menu boxes areused to place a "COVER.TIF" graphic on top of the very first blankslide.

Compel automatically advances to the next slide after a trigger event"leave slide" which causes an associated sound recording to bedisplayed. To display the same graphics after displaying a soundrecording, the first slide is duplicated as a second slide. The action"do nothing" is specified for all trigger events for the (duplicated)second slide.

Therefore every page of an interactive media displayed to the userrequires two slides. So a third slide can be then opened and the nextpage's graphic "PAGE1.TIF" placed on the third slide. Then the soundfile "PAGE1.WAV" can be associated to the third slide. In this mannerall of the graphics files and all of the sound files can be linked tocorresponding pairs of slides in the desired sequential order, the firstslide of each pair being associated with a sound file and the secondslide of each pair having the same graphic as the first slide of thepair.

When application 549 is completed, the application can be saved in afile called "FIREBOOK.CPL". The "FIREBOOK.CPL" and a run-time version ofthe Compel program (henceforth "compel application") can be transferredto a storage media such as CD-ROM compatible write once optical disk.The transfer can be done by a Sony CD Recording Unit CDW-900E availablefrom Sony Electronics, Inc., 3300 Zanker Road, San Jose, Calif. 95134.

A compel application, when started up and prompted with "FIREBOOK"responds to a button code from the remote control. In particular, thecompel application causes advancing of each slide on receipt of a leftmouse button code from a remote control. Therefore if a left mousebutton code is received by compel application during display of thefirst slide, compel application exits the first slide and while exitingdisplays the sound file associated with the first slide. Then compelapplication displays the second slide (which has a graphic identical tothe graphic of the first slide). If a left mouse button is receivedduring display of the second slide, compel application exits the secondslide and immediately displays the third slide.

After displaying the last slide of a selection, compel applicationre-displays the first slide on receipt of a left mouse button code.Although the left mouse button code is used in one embodiment of anapplication for a picture book remote control, other applications canuse other button codes such as scan codes for F1 key or enter key inaccordance with this invention. The file name of an application such asFIREBOOK.EXE can be included in a file such as DISGO.BAT 430 (FIG. 5E).

In an alternative embodiment of this invention, a storage media can beused with a host device not configured with the autostart driver by theuser manually issuing the command COMPEL X:FIREBOOK wherein X denotesthe peripheral containing the inserted storage media.

While in one embodiment of this invention, the Compel application wasused, a programmer skilled in the art can create such an application orother compatible applications using a programming language (such as C)and associated development systems for an IBM compatible PC or an AppleMacintosh. A programmer can also create similar applications by usingsoftware development systems available from video game machinemanufacturers such as Sega, Nintendo and 3DO.

An application which maps every page to the same button and which allowssequential access of the pages is well suited for a children's picturebook remote control such as picture book remote control 100.

An application for random access of articles for a multiple buttonremote control can be created by associating buttons to differentarticles. One such application for a periodical remote control isillustrated in FIG. 8C.

To create an application for a periodical remote control, an authorselects "periodical remote control" from format menu 924B. Then anauthor either starts a new periodical remote control application oropens an existing periodical remote control application from file menu924A.

FIG. 9D illustrates a screen 907B of author interface 907 for creatingan application for a periodical remote control. Authoring buttons 938Bfor a periodical remote control include #Buttons legend 942. Currentbutton legend 943, Information file legend 944, Commercial file legend945, Article file legend 946 and corresponding input boxes 942A, 943A,944A, 945A and 946A. An author specifies the number of articleselections in input box 942A, in step 917B1 (FIG. 9B).

Using the number of article selections, an author can choose one layoutfrom several preprogrammed layouts for the buttons of a periodicalremote control. For example, to create a six-selection remote control,an author types in the number "6" in the input box 942A.

Next in step 917B2 the author chooses a button to be worked on from dropdown list box 943A. Each button number uniquely identifies the locationof a button on a layout for a remote control which is displayed to theauthor on screen 931 (not shown). For example, to work on article 3, anauthor double clicks on the number "3" in the box 943A.

Next in step 917B3 the author associates the video recording articlefile that will be displayed with the corresponding button on the remotecontrol by double clicking on the desired article file such as"article3.AVI" 946A1 in box 946A. A video recording article preview fileis associated with a corresponding button on the remote control bysingle clicking on the desired article preview file such as"contents.avi."

In one embodiment of this invention, a DETAIL mode file can beassociated with an article selection or a commercial selection. TheDETAIL mode file is displayed when a user touches button INFO 645Dduring the display of a commercial selection or an article selection.

Information box 944A lists choices of DETAIL mode files which can beassociated with article and/or commercial selections. For example, file"quote27.exe" can be associated with an article selection by clicking ona desired article selection such as "article3.avi" and then doubleclicking on file "quote27.exe". Alternatively, DETAIL mode file"quote27.exe" can be associated with a commercial selection such as"spot27.adv" by first clicking on the commercial selection in box 945Aand then double clicking on the DETAIL mode file.

Multiple levels of DETAIL can be setup by associating a DETAIL mode fileto a lower level DETAIL mode file until the lowest level DETAIL modefile is reached and the lowest level DETAIL mode file is associated withthe article selection or the commercial selection from which the DETAILmode was originally entered. For example, an author clicks on "quote27.EXE" in 944A and then while holding down the CTRL key, double clickson "ORDER27.EXE" in 944A. In accordance with this invention, DETAIL modefiles can be full motion video, and/or text and/or graphics and/orcomputer programs.

In FIG. 9D, screen 931B, an edit screen, shows the first frame of thecurrent video article "article3.AVI". Dialog box 925B includes authoringbuttons 939B which include PREVIEW button 951, Play button 952, Stopbutton 953, Backward button 954, Forward button 955 and InsertCommercial button 956.

When Play button 952 is clicked by an author, the current article,commercial or DETAIL mode file is displayed on screen 931B. When Stopbutton 953 is clicked, the display of current video and/or and audiorecording selection is frozen. When Backward button 954 or the Forwardbutton 955 are clicked, the video and/or audio recording is rewound oradvanced respectively. The rate of video advance and rewind starts andruns very slowly. The rate of video advance accelerates when the mousebutton is held down for an extended period of time.

When Insert Commercial button 956 is clicked during display of anarticle selection, a function call (or a tag) for an automaticcommercial call is inserted at the current position in the articleselection "article3.AVI."In an alternative embodiment of this invention,an author can insert selected commercials into an article selection(rather than calls to display a random commercial). The availablecommercials are listed in Commercial file box 945A and selected bydouble-clicking a commercial selection in box 945A immediately afterinserting a function call (or a tag).

When the Preview button 951 is clicked, author interface 907 switchesfrom editing mode to a preview mode which allows an author to "testdrive" the current periodical remote control. Authoring buttons 939B arereplaced with preview buttons 939C which include Author button 951A,SKIP button 951B, REPEAT button 951C and INFO button 951D. When Authorbutton 951A is clicked, screen 931 returns to the editing mode.

To preview the periodical remote control after entering the preview modean author double clicks on a file name 946A1 in Article File box 946A.Article selection "article 3.avi" 946A1 will play in screen 931 withautomatic commercials being called when appropriate, as if a user hadtouched button 3. INFO button 951D, SKIP button 951B and REPEAT button951C function in the manner specified above in reference to periodicalremote control 640.

FIG. 9E illustrates a screen 907C of author interface 907 for creatingan application for use with a touch panel remote control. Format menu924B includes choices (Pub. Type, Button Type, Draw Button, Draw Page,Button #, Attributes, and Rulers) in a drop down list box 966. An authorcan specify arbitrary shaped buttons on a touch panel remote control byselecting "Draw Button" in drop down list box 966 for the format menu924B.

Then screen 931C displays two pages 960A and 960B. The author thenchooses Draw Page from drop down list box 966 of format menu 924B todefine the size and shape of the magazine page as well as the buttons.The author then selects one of tools 964A, 964B, 964C, 964D, 964E, 964Fand 964G from the button drawing tool list 964. For instance, an authorselects the box tool 964D to draw button 961A on screen 960A and button961C on 960B. On drawing the periphery of a button the author interface907C prompts the author to specify a button number in input box 965before proceeding to draw the periphery of another button. Button 961Bis drawn with a circular drawing tool 964E while the button 961D isdrawn with a free form drawing tool 964F. Selection tool 964A can beused to reposition a button while rotation tool 964G can be used torotate the button.

When an author has completed drawing of all of the buttons on a touchpanel, the author then clicks the OK button 962 to save the currentconfiguration of buttons on a touch panel. Alternatively, clicking onCANCEL button 963 aborts any changes made during the current drawingsession.

FIG. 9F is an illustrative flow chart for application creation engine908 of FIG. 9A. Application creation engine 908 initializes variables instep 971 and goes to step 972 where it gets the remote control type fromthe author (in format menu 924B). Then application creation engine 908goes to step 973 where it gets the total number of selections in theremote control application being created (in input box 942A of FIG. 9D).Next in step 974, application creation engine 908 gets the button codeof the function/data button which is to be associated with currentselection being programmed (in input box 943A).

In one embodiment of this invention, an author needs to merely enter thetotal number of selections and the number of selections automaticallyindicates the preselected layout. In such an embodiment, selecting abutton number in input box 943A indicates the location of the button andalso a unique button code to be encoded in a wireless signal identifyingthe selected button.

In step 975, application creation engine 908 gets a graphics file nameand associates the graphics file with the current selection. In step976, application creation engine 908 gets the video file name andassociates the video file with the current selection. In step 977,application creation engine 908 gets the text file name and associatesthe text file with the current selection. Steps 975, 976 and 977 areoptional steps which can be executed in any order by an author. However,at least one of steps 975, 976, and 977 must be executed beforeproceeding to next step 978.

In step 978, application creation engine 908 associates the button codeof the currently selected button with the memory address of theselection formed by the preceding steps 975 and/or 976 and/or 977. Inone embodiment, application creation engine 908 stores the button codein the selection data storage location which is offset from theselection's beginning memory address by a predetermined amount ofoffset. As noted above, such storage allows the selection associatedwith a button code to be identified by an application.

Finally in step 979, application creation engine 908 checks to see ifall of the selections for the current interactive media have beenassociated with the respective button codes. If all of the selectionshave been associated, the current application is finished andapplication creation engine 908 goes from step 979 via branch 980 backto step 972 to get the next remote control type. If not all of theselections for the current remote control have been programmed,application creation engine 908 goes from step 979 via branch 981 tostep 974 where it gets the button code of the next button.

One advantage of the remote control application authoring system andmethod described above is simplicity, which allows anyone to author anapplication for an interactive media with minimal training. The aboveprocedure is also less labor intensive with the resultant cost savingsand allows rapid prototyping with short time to market.

A remote control in accordance with this invention improves a user'sinteraction with interactive media for a number of reasons. One isinteractive media is easier to produce because this invention makes iteasy to repurpose existing non-interactive media into interactive media.For example, a normal children's printed book, such as a picture book,can be made interactive by simply scanning pages of the book and thenrecording and saving the pages into graphic files and then recordingtext audio for the text on each page into voice recording files. Such aremote control allows the child to simply push a button to read the bookon a television, a page at a time. For example, a thousand Disney titlescan be taken and repurposed virtually overnight into interactive media.Interactive media is also made easier to sell or market because theremote control looks like non-interactive media in the store so apublisher can sell the remote in normal conventional bookstores or forexample in the case of a disk video CD or audio CD in normal recordstores in normal record stores like Blockbuster video. Interactive mediais also easier to use with the remote control because the interactivemedia still feels like normal TV or normal book or normal magazinerather than like computer software. Normal computer software isdifficult because software requires the use of a mouse and doubleclicking and icons and typing commands and some minimal computer skillswhich can be roadblocks to people who never used computers. In the caseof a printed publication remote control, a user does exactly what theuser does with a normal book. The user opens a book and the user looksat the table of contents and the user says to himself or herselftouching the picture, "This is what I want to watch." The TV programthat the user just selected is then shown on the TV or the CD audioselection that the user wants to listen to is played as soon as the usertouches the title. The user never needs to think about what to do. Inall cases, the remote allows the user immediate access to interactivemedia without having to read the manual.

A data button remote control looks like a normal remote control but hasdifferent buttons for example MARS, EARTH and PLUTO. Where asconventional computer game remote controls require that the user firstread the manual, with a remote control in accordance with this inventionit is not necessary to read the manual to understand what the controlsdo, what the remote control does. The user doesn't have to remember theinstructions. A remote control in accordance with this invention relatesin an intuitive way to the user, because the buttons on the remotecontrol can be optimized for each game (rather than be universal) anddifferent for each game (rather than requiring the user to remember thata button C for example causes one thing for one game and the same buttonC causes the game to quit for another game).

It is to be understood that the above description is intended to beillustrative and not restrictive. Many variations of the invention willbecome apparent to those of skill in the art upon review of thisdisclosure. For example, a video cassette recorder (VCR) tape can beused as the storage media and data buttons can be supported on the VCRtape housing for remotely selecting movies encoded in the VCR tape. Oneembodiment of a printed publication remote control can be similar to arestaurant menu for purchasing various dishes. Another embodiment of aprinted publication remote control can be an information brochure suchas a product brochure and a company brochure. Yet another embodiment ofa printed publication remote control can have the appearance of apicture post card. A remote control in accordance with this inventioncan have the appearance of a conventional TV program guide, or aconventional newspaper and need not contain a storage media (i.e. in theform of a printed publication remote control).

Although the remote control embodiments have been shown with a number ofdata buttons for accessing certain selections and/or a number offunction buttons for implementing functions, any types of buttons havingany attributes of data and/or function can be built into a remotecontrol in accordance with this invention.

Moreover, associations between button codes and selections can beimplemented as a table of pointers, with the button code as the indexinto the table and the pointers being addresses of the selections on thestorage media. Alternatively, the associations can be implemented usingother data structures such as linked lists which are well known to aperson of skill in the art.

The scope of this invention is limited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for displaying on a display deviceincluded in a host device, information to be retrieved from a storagemedia accessible by said host device, the method comprising:sensing, ina printed publication, a touching on a surface portion of said printedpublication; generating, from said printed publication, a wirelesssignal in response to said sensing; receiving said wireless signal atsaid host device; selecting, in response to said wireless signal, aselection of information at random from a plurality of selectionsaccessible by said host device; and displaying at least a portion ofsaid randomly selected selection.
 2. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising:determining the coordinates of a location of said touching onsaid surface portion of said printed publication.
 3. The method of claim1 further comprising:measuring voltages to determine X and Y coordinatesof a location of said touching on said surface portion of said printedpublication.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of sensingincludes:generating a wake up interrupt signal to a microcontroller inresponse to said touching.
 5. A method for displaying a selectionencoded in a storage media accessible by a host device, said methodcomprising:sensing a touching of a region of a page in a printedpublication, the region having printed content associated with aplurality of selections of information; generating, from said printedpublication, a wireless signal in response to said sensing; receivingsaid wireless signal at said host device; selecting, at random, aselection from said plurality of selections by said host device; anddisplaying at least a portion of said randomly selected selection. 6.The method of claim 5 further comprising:determining the coordinates ofa location of said touching on said surface portion of said printedpublication.
 7. The method of claim 5 further comprising:measuringvoltages to determine X and Y coordinates of a location of said touchingon said surface portion of said printed publication.
 8. The method ofclaim 5 wherein the step of sensing includes:generating a wake upinterrupt signal to a microcontroller in response to said touching onsaid surface portion of said printed publication.
 9. A method ofcontrolling a display of information by a host device in response totouching a printed publication, the method comprising:sensing, in aprinted publication, a touching on a surface portion of said printedpublication; generating, from said printed publication, a wirelesssignal in response to said step of sensing; and displaying at least aportion of a randomly selected selection by a host device in response tosaid wireless signal.
 10. The method of claim 9 furthercomprising:measuring voltages to determine X and Y coordinates of alocation of said touching on said surface portion of said printedpublication, wherein said wireless signal indicates said location.
 11. Amethod for displaying information at a host device in response to awireless signal generated by a touching on a surface portion of aprinted publication, the method comprising:receiving said wirelesssignal by said host device; selecting at random a file from a pluralityof files in response to said wireless signal by said host device; anddisplaying at least a portion of information contained in said randomlyselected file.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein said plurality offiles are indicated by said wireless signal.
 13. The method of claim 11further comprising: selecting, at random, said plurality of files bysaid host device.